By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp has signed a landmark protocol granting South African cherry producers access to the Chinese market for the first time.
China is the world’s largest importer of cherries, having imported a total 586 900 t of cherries valued at $3.3-billion, or R52.8-billion, in 2025.
Aucamp signed the protocol alongside General Administration of Chinese Custos Minister Sun Meijun at the ninth Sanitary and Phytosanitary Ministerial Meeting in Beijing.
“We truly appreciate China’s efforts to speed up our market access requests for South African Agriculture products,” Aucamp said, referring in particular to broadened trade under the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development that gives South Africa 0% tariff market access in China.
The minister also commended the finalisation and signing of the Cherry protocol as a confirmation of the commitment made to increase and broaden trade under the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development, giving South Africa 0% tariff market access to Chinese markets.
The signing of the protocol will have immense economic benefits for South Africa, with China being the leading global importer of cherries.
Aucamp also had an opportunity to engage the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhang Zhu. In the meeting, both Ministers reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to continue to collaborate on mutually beneficial areas such as biosecurity – especially Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and securing more market access opportunities for South African agricultural products.
Furthermore, the minister also met and engaged with representatives of the Chinese fruit importers at the South Africa-China Fruit Trade Business Forum, organised by FruitSA.