The clock is ticking – with just days remaining before President Donald Trump’s administration implements devastating 30% tariffs on South African imports, the country’s citrus industry is sounding urgent alarms about the catastrophic impact on rural communities and thousands of jobs.
The punitive tariffs, set to take effect on 1 August, will replace the current 10% levy and directly threaten the livelihoods of citrus growers in the Northern and Western Cape provinces, which annually export approximately 7 million cartons to the United States market.
Ramaphosa urged to act
The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has written an urgent letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling for immediate intervention to secure either an extension of the current tariff rate or special consideration for seasonal fresh produce.
“This week, with the tariff deadline on Friday, is one of great anxiety for the citrus growers in the Western and Northern Cape,” said Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the CGA.
The timing couldn’t be worse for South African exporters. The country has just passed the midpoint of its 2025 citrus export season, meaning hundreds of thousands of cartons are currently ready in packhouses for shipment to American markets over the coming weeks.
Economic devastation predicted
Industry leaders warn that the 30% tariff will render most of this ready-to-ship fruit unsaleable, creating immediate financial hardship for growers and threatening the broader economic ecosystem of rural communities.
Gerrit van der Merwe, Chairman of the CGA and a grower in Citrusdal, painted a grim picture of the potential fallout: “Being a grower in Citrusdal, I am very worried about the effect the tariffs will have on our town and the wider Cederberg municipality. Citrus forms the economic heart of the area.”
The impact extends far beyond individual farms. “Not just farmers and farm workers will feel the impact, local businesses and even the funding of social support programmes will be affected as well,” van der Merwe warned. “The social fabric of some rural towns in the Western and Northern Cape is being threatened.”
Agricultural land at risk
Perhaps most alarming is the industry’s prediction that the tariffs could force between 500 and 1 000 hectares of citrus farmland to become unprofitable, potentially leading to the permanent destruction of productive agricultural areas.
“Local growers have also said that a 30% tariff could not only stifle future growth, but lead to the eventual destruction of between 500 and 1000 ha that would simply become unprofitable,” van der Merwe continued.
Industry representatives emphasize that South African citrus exports pose no threat to American growers or jobs, as the produce sustains consumer demand during periods when local US citrus is out of season.
“South African citrus growers do not pose a threat to US growers or jobs, as the produce sustains demand when local US citrus is out of season, benefiting US consumers,” Dr Ntshabele explained. “Citrus as a source of nutrition also helps to keep America healthy.”
Market diversification challenges
While government officials have promoted market diversification as a solution to the trade turmoil, the CGA highlighted significant practical obstacles to this approach.
“Citrus is grown for designated markets, each with their own precise market and plant health specifications. Therefore, it is not easy to simply divert citrus from the US and find a new market,” the association stated in its letter to Ramaphosa.
The industry warns that hasty diversification could backfire: “Should some citrus be diverted away from the US, the diversion could very well depress the price in these markets through oversupply, negatively impacting the entire Southern African citrus industry.”
Future growth at stake
The tariff threat comes at a critical time for South Africa’s citrus sector, which has ambitious expansion plans that could significantly boost employment.
“The citrus industry has the potential to create 100 000 additional jobs by 2032 because of new plantings. But for this to realise, we require the expansion of every market – including the US, China, India, the European Union and others,” the CGA emphasized.
Urgent diplomatic action required
As the 1 August deadline approaches, industry leaders are calling for more aggressive diplomatic intervention. While acknowledging some progress in US trade negotiations, the CGA believes more direct and active contact with American officials is essential.
“Should we not be able to secure a favourable trade deal, or the concession for fresh produce, local job losses before the next season will be a certainty,” Dr Ntshabele warned.
The association has specifically requested that if a general extension proves impossible, President Ramaphosa should secure an urgent exemption for seasonal fresh produce, emphasizing that such products are perishable and cannot be stored like other trade goods.
With the Friday deadline fast approaching, South Africa’s citrus industry – and the rural communities that depend on it – await urgent government action to prevent what they describe as an economic catastrophe in the making.
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