South Africa is prepared to tighten its position on products related to forced and child labor, with the government seeking public opinion before implementing new import laws.
Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, stated that the government would issue a notice in the Government Gazette requesting public feedback on new laws that would prohibit the import or sale of items produced entirely or partially via forced labour or child labour.
The statement comes after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) placed a 12.5% tariff on South African goods that do not fall under current exclusions or are already subject to separate US trade levies.
The minister revealed via a statement that South Africa will continue conversations with the USTR in an effort to decrease or eliminate the Section 301 tax, as seen on Mining Weekly.
“South Africa has indicated that it will be publishing a notice in the Gazette requesting public comments on [its] intent to issue regulation to prohibit goods produced using in whole or in part forced labour and child labour,” the statement reads.
