The United States has imposed a 12.5% tariff on imports from South Africa, joining a broader list of 60 countries targeted in a new wave of trade restrictions.
The measure, announced by the Trump administration, cites failures to prohibit forced labour imports as the primary justification for the levy.
South Africa is now subject to the same punitive rate applied to other economies, including Switzerland and Australia, in a significant expansion of US trade barriers.
Despite the broad brush of the new policy, critical exemptions remain for South African exporters.
Citrus fruits, notably oranges, and nuts are explicitly excluded from the tariff, preserving a vital revenue stream for the agricultural sector.
Reports also suggest that automotive goods may be spared, though the final scope of that exemption remains under review.