In reverse of the protective speech of Donald Trump with regard to Afrikaners white farmers, South African agriculture is particularly struck by the heavy US customs from customs targeting Pretoria.
The southern winter clouds pile up above the Robertson wine valley, 150 kilometers east of the CAP. The horizon also darkens with the entry into application, now set for August 7, of the US customs duties of 30% targeting all the South African products.
The classic CAP, a local sparkling white wine elaborated according to the Champagne method, previously benefited from an exemption from from Washington from the AGOA law. Like so many other agricultural products: citrus, macadamia nuts or lawyers …
In the naked vineyards of Graham Beck, a large name of the classic CAP, agricultural workers wrapped in polar thicks cut the pampres. The house, with 135 employees, anticipated the sending of nearly 300,000 bottles that it flows each year on the American market, almost 15% of its annual production.
“We had to save time, by sending a little more stock to the United States to allow us to hold all year without affecting our prices,” the director general Pieter Ferreira told AFP. “But I don’t think it changes much, because the crystal ball is blurred for 2026.”
In total, 4% of South African agricultural exports were intended for the United States last year according to the Local Chamber of Agriculture. Or nearly $ 600 million according to figures from this organization as well as the South African tax authorities.
In a country where 72% of arable land still belonged in 2017 to the white minority, according to government figures, these customs surcharges above all affect the descendants of the first European settlers. These Afrikaners of which Donald Trump made the self-proclaimed defender by welcoming around fifty of them, like refugees.
The American president still accused Pretoria on Tuesday of having “very bad policies” saying that “many people are killed”, in line with his allegations on an alleged persecution of farmers from the white minority, which represents 7.3% of the population.
“The sufferings of farmers are not a racial question, as he tries to make believe,” says Pieter Ferreira. “He claims that the (South African) government is not interested in the fate of farmers, but he himself inflicts customs duties of 30% on agricultural products,” he notes.
– 100,000 jobs at stake –
According to the governor of the South African Central Bank, American customs taxes could cost a total of 100,000 jobs in the first economy on the continent, already overwhelmed by unemployment of almost 33%.
“The impact on agriculture could be quite devastating, because this sector employs many unskilled workers,” warned the same Lesetja KGanyago, citing in particular the citrus sector.
The United States absorbed between 6% and 8% of these South African fruits, depending on whether they are oranges or mandarins.
But some operations, in particular Citrusdal 200 km north of the Cape, have focused a lot on the American market thanks to the preferential export conditions allowed by AGOA.
“At present, that represents around 25 to 30% of our activity. This is our high -end product, making it one of our most important markets,” said AFP Gerrit Van der Merwe, between two alleys dotted with oranges in its 1,000 hectares of planting.
His family will celebrate next year the 260th anniversary of the family exploitation in Citrusdal, embodying this work of the land in the heart of the founding myth of Afrikaners – Boer means “farmer” in Dutch as in Afrikaans.
– Would Morte? –
“As a well -established business, we will survive the situation,” explains the boss of this exploitation (ALG), which employs around 2,000 people. “But what is the reality? If we reduce the 100 hectare wing, 200 people will meet without work next year in Citrusdal.”
A colossal figure for a modest rural city with less than 10,000 inhabitants and very busy during this intensive period of harvest.
“Citrus fruits are the only source of income. If we do not use these 200 people, who will do it? Not to mention that it will have repercussions on the supermarket, pharmacy, clothing stores,” alerts Gerrit van der Merwe. “What is the point of surviving as an exploitation, if our little rural town dies?”
If he had a message to the American president, that he “respects” for “his efforts to bring industries to the United States” while being “disagreement with his methodology”, he would recall that the producers of South African citrus are exporting an “out of season”.
“So we don’t steal from California,” he argues. “All we do is offer a healthy product at a very affordable price.”
Posted on August 1 at 07:27 am, AFP
