By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The US President Donald Trump has exempted a range of food products including citrus, bananas and tropical fruits from the 30% import tariffs he imposed on more than 90 countries.
Trump slapped tariffs on most countries including South Africa in April 2025.
The new exemption covers a range of tropical products that are often imported to the United States, including coffee, tea, mangoes, avocados, coconuts, pineapples, cocoa, macadamia nuts and spices such as nutmeg, according to an executive order. It also covers beef, oranges and tomatoes.
South Africa is the largest macadamia nut producer in the world. The country’s production has grown significantly, surpassing Australia, and is driven by factors like favorable growing conditions and increased planting areas.
The imposition of a 30% tariff on citrus from South Africa had a limited impact on the industry. This was because the tariffs came into effect towards the end of the local season.
Growers in the Western and Northern Cape – the only two provinces that export to the United States were also able to increase and fast-track shipments to the US before the tariff deadline.
The statement said Trump, decided to exempt the products on Friday because he’s made “substantial progress” in negotiating trade deals with other countries.
The U.S. had reached framework agreements with Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador and Argentina designed to ease import levies on agricultural products produced in those countries.
Trump has insisted costs are actually down since he took over from former President Joe Biden, and has long denied that higher tariffs could push up consumer prices — a persistent fear raised by economists.
Meanwhile South Africa said, it won’t stop talking to its US counterparts, as it remains an important player in both the national and global economies.
This is according to Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo, who said talks with the US continue.
Trump has falsely claimed that South Africa’s government is subjecting White Afrikaans farmers to genocide and has offered members of that community refugee status.
The US leader has also criticised South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment laws aimed at redressing the impact of apartheid-era discrimination.