Citrus Growers Association calls on govt to speed up efforts to identify new markets
This comes as some industries face a possible 30% levy on goods shipped to the US at the start of August, with South Africa’s citrus growers expected to take a hammering.
Crates of oranges. Wikimedia Commons/Dietmar Rabich
CAPE TOWN – The Citrus Growers Association is calling on government to speed up efforts to identify new markets, amid some anxiety of US President Donald Trump's looming import tariffs.
This comes as some industries face a possible 30% levy on goods shipped to the US at the start of August, with South Africa’s citrus growers expected to take a hammering.
The association said talks with government had already begun on alternative markets to avoid crippling businesses and massive job losses.
CEO of the association, Boitshoko Ntshabele, said that while exact figures were not possible to predict, they fear that next season will be tough.
He said there needed to be stronger collaboration to keep the markets open.
“We want to appeal to government, especially the department of trade and industry we know that the president has employed all of us to find new markets but new markets will not come in the short term, they will come in the medium term but clearly when the new tariffs are implemented there is going to be immediate pain for our growers.”