Consumer pressure may have driven Trump’s exemption of certain South African produce from tariffs

United States (US) President Donald Trump’s decision to exempt certain fresh produce items and spices from his tariff catalogue may have been consumer driven.

Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo said that US consumers put pressure on the US leadership due to the prices of imported goods.

The US imposed a 30% tariff on South African exports, which came into effect in August.

He added that macadamia nut growers in the Northern Regions are now able to enter the US market with the exemption.

"I hope that they can continue to put this pressure on more products in the basket that, of course, would be of benefit for us as South Africans."

Sihlobo added that South Africa's exports amounted to more than $11 billion in the first three quarters of 2025.

He projected that South African exports to the US will exceed $14 billion for the first time in 2025.

"What ended up happening in about a few months back when President Trump gave us that 90-day pause, that 90-day pause coincided with many of the colleagues in the citrus style area and the others were actually harvesting and we were able to take advantage of that and push a lot of products to the US."

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