South Africa, widely seen as the continent’s most advanced economy, is turning to China for fresh trade opportunities in response to Washington’s latest tariff measures.
The United States recently imposed a 30% tariff on South African goods, prompting Pretoria to accelerate efforts to diversify its export markets.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced this week that a new trade deal with China is close to being finalised, offering South Africa an important lifeline amid mounting trade tensions with its biggest Western partner.
The agreement will initially allow the export of five types of stone fruit to China, opening access to one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.
The breakthrough came during Steenhuisen’s recent visit to Beijing with Deputy President Paul Mashatile, where discussions were held with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC).
“I can today share that after the last visit that I attended with the Deputy President in China, and our visit as the Agriculture Minister to the GACC, we were given the protocol for stone fruit,” Steenhuisen said on his X page.
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He added, “The deal includes five types of stone fruit, which include plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, and prunes, paving the way for stone fruit from South Africa to China.”
By securing entry into China’s vast agricultural import market, the government aims to ease the impact of the U.S. tariffs while strengthening South Africa’s position in Asia’s broader economic network.
The move also signals a recalibration of Pretoria’s trade relationships, balancing historic ties with the West against the growing economic influence of the East.
For decades, South Africa has maintained close commercial links with the U.S., benefiting from preferential trade arrangements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
However, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose sweeping 30% tariffs on South African goods has accelerated the country’s push to engage more deeply with emerging markets.
South Africa’s temperate climate and fertile valleys make it a key supplier of counter-seasonal fruit to the Northern Hemisphere.
It is the world’s second-largest citrus exporter after Spain and also ships large volumes of apples, pears, grapes, stone fruit, avocados, and blueberries.
In 2024, fresh fruit exports rose 2.1% to 4.2 million tonnes, continuing a decade-long annual growth trend of 3.7%.
The draft protocol for stone fruit exports could serve as the foundation for a broader agricultural and industrial trade agreement with China, potentially covering minerals, manufactured goods, and value-added products.
Such an expansion would not only help offset the impact of U.S. tariffs but also reduce South Africa’s reliance on any single trade partner.
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Image Credit: Produce Report
