President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned Parliament that the surge in oil prices will slow economic growth, undermine progress on inflation, and create difficult conditions for the foreseeable future. For ordinary South Africans, the whole mess is still ahead.
THE United States is proposing new tariffs on all products from South Africa following a Section 301 investigation into forced labour import prohibitions.
The US Trade Representative completed its investigation into 60 countries, including South Africa, and found that South Africa failed to impose and effectively enforce a ban on goods made with forced labour. Hearings on the proposed tariffs are scheduled for July 7, 2026.
The US Trade Representative said: “The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable.”
As a result, the US is proposing new tariffs on all products from South Africa. For South African exporters in agriculture and manufacturing, these tariffs will add more pressure to an economy already struggling with record fuel prices.
