Washington D.C. – July 24, 2026 – The United States has officially implemented new tariffs on imports from 60 countries, including South Africa, citing concerns over the failure to effectively enforce prohibitions against goods produced with forced labour. Effective July 24, South African products now face a 12.5% tariff, a measure stemming from a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under Section 301(b) of the Trade Act of 1974 .
This latest tariff imposition follows a period of significant trade policy adjustments. Previously, South African exports not explicitly exempted were subject to a 10% tariff. Additionally, Section 232 tariffs of 25% had been applied to specific steel and aluminium exports, as well as certain automobiles and components . The current Section 301 investigation was initiated on March 12, 2026, in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate the ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs, which were initially imposed in 2025 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by former President Donald Trump .
The USTR’s framework for these new tariffs differentiates between trading partners based on their commitment to combating forced labour. Countries that have demonstrated commitments to adopt and effectively enforce forced-labour import prohibitions are subject to a 10% tariff. Conversely, those deemed to have failed in this regard face a higher 12.5% tariff rate . South Africa falls into the latter category, alongside other nations such as Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom, which are subject to the 10% tariff .
South Africa’s government actively engaged with the USTR regarding these investigations. A delegation led by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), supported by the Department of Employment and Labour, the International Trade Administration Commission, and the Embassy of South Africa, participated in a public hearing on July 9, 2026, in Washington D.C. . During this hearing, South Africa presented arguments asserting the existence of domestic laws prohibiting forced labour and a robust legal framework for enforcing such prohibitions on imported goods .
In its testimony, South Africa formally requested an exemption from the 12.5% tariff. Alternatively, it proposed that key exports, including platinum-group and precious metals, vehicles, catamarans, citrus, seafood, wine, and nuts, be exempted from any proposed action, emphasizing the absence of evidence linking these inputs to forced labour .
Following these deliberations, several South African products have indeed retained their exempted status under the new Section 301 tariff regime. These include platinum and other precious metals, various citrus products, other fruits, fruit juices, and nuts. These exemptions align with the USTR’s policy of exempting certain raw materials and products that cannot be produced in sufficient quantities within the United StatesÂ
