South Africa is prepared to tighten its position on products related to forced and child labor, with the government seeking public opinion before implementing new import laws.
- South Africa plans to introduce strict laws banning imports of products made with forced or child labour, seeking public input before implementation.
- The new regulations are in response to the US imposing a 12.5% tariff on <a href="https://absafricatv9491.live-website.com/south-african-police-killed-nigerian-ibeh-simon-during-arrest/" title="South African police killed Nigerian Ibeh Simon during arrest”>South African goods not subject to previous exclusions or tariffs.
- South Africa will continue discussions with the US to reduce or remove the increased Section 301 tariffs.
- Goods such as autos, steel, chemicals, minerals, and pharmaceuticals are among items exempted from the higher US levies.
Parks Tau, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, stated that the government would issue a notice in the Government Gazette requesting public feedback on new laws that would prohibit the import or sale of items produced entirely or partially
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The statement comes after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) placed a 12.5% tariff on South African goods that do not fall under current exclusions or are already subject to separate US trade levies.
The minister revealedth the USTR in an effort to decrease or eliminate the Section 301 tax, as seen on Mining Weekly
“South Africa has indicated that it will be publishing a notice in the Gazette requesting public comments on [its] intent to issue regulation to prohibit goods produced using in whole or in part forced labour and child labour,” the statement reads.
He also stated that the extra Section 301 taxes will not apply to things that are currently subject to Section 232 tariffs, including autos, automotive parts, steel, and aluminum.
Several South African goods have also been exempt from the increased levies.
Products include macadamia nuts, oranges, limes, tea, spices, seeds, cane sugar, citrus juices, syrups, chemicals, critical minerals, platinum group and other valuable metals, isotopes, civil aircraft and associated components, and pharmaceuticals.
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President Trump shows reciprocal tariff rates at the White House Rose Garden on Liberation Day on April 2, 2025.Chip Somodevilla/Business Insider USA
The Donald Trump-led administration last week unveiled a sweeping new tariff regime targeting imports from 60 economies, with Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Angola and dozens of other countries set to face a 12.5% tariff as the US president rebuilds his global trade wall under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
The new sanctions, according to the White House, are the result of an examination into how numerous trading partners failed to sufficiently prohibit commodities created with forced labor from entering their supply chains, resulting in an unfair competitive disadvantage for American workers.
According to the presidential memo, just 17 economies, including Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Trinidad and Tobago, will enjoy a reduced 10% tax.
Most other studied economies, including most of Africa’s top exporters, would face the higher 12.5% tariff.
