While agriculture stakeholders such as Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) have welcomed the extension of African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) to 2028, it falls short of the 15 years that South Africa was hoping for and trade certainty remains clouded by other tariff risks. The US implemented a new 12.5% tariff on a wide range of South African imports on July 24 owing to “slave labour” concerns, which think tank Advancing American Freedom trade expert and international relations fellow Andrew Hale says is another one of US President Donald Trump’s suite of illegal tariffs being imposed on countries all around the world.

The export value chain faces several challenges, and SA must not be fixated on pivoting away from the US over temporary and political decisions

While agriculture stakeholders such as Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) have welcomed the extension of African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) to 2028, it…