Farmers Slam Ramaphosa Over Trump’s 30% Tariffs: “He Let Us Down”

Anger is rising among South African farmers as they brace for a 30% US tariff blow and they say President Cyril Ramaphosa failed to defend their livelihoods.

From citrus orchards in Limpopo to wine estates in the Western Cape, the farming community is reeling after US President Donald Trump slapped sweeping trade penalties on South African goods. The move, effective from August, targets major exports like citrus, wine, nuts, and even vehicles, all sectors already under pressure in a stagnating local economy.

But it’s not Trump who’s getting the blame. Many in agriculture are pointing fingers at Ramaphosa and his Cabinet.

AfriForum: Government Ignored Warnings, Attacked Whistleblowers

Civil rights group AfriForum wasted no time in holding the ANC government accountable. “Ramaphosa and his team dismissed US concerns as mere misinformation,” said Ernst van Zyl, AfriForum’s head of public relations. “Instead of engaging seriously, they accused us of spreading lies, even launching a bizarre investigation into treason against us for speaking the truth.”

AfriForum claims it flagged risks months ago and even offered to help find solutions, but were met with denialism and hostility from the government.

Citrus, Wine, Nuts and Jobs on the Line

Theo de Jager, president of the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), warned that South African agricultural exports are now hanging by a thread. “This 30% tariff will even apply to shipments already en route to the US,” he said.

For farmers, the US is not just another market, it’s a crucial one. “Losing access to the world’s biggest consumer base creates a ripple effect across farming towns,” said De Jager. “It affects jobs, food security, and our place in global trade.”

He’s especially concerned that the new duties override the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), a US law that has long provided South Africa with duty-free trade access. “Replacing the US market isn’t simple. We can’t just shift to Asia or Europe overnight, those lanes are already full of competition.”

“Nobody Showed Up to Negotiate”

TLU SA chair Bennie van Zyl didn’t mince his words. “Other countries engaged Trump. We didn’t. Our government was asleep, and now farmers are left to clean up the mess,” he said.

He added that red meat producers, fruit exporters, and wine farmers are all set to lose big. “We’re being punished economically, and no one is stepping up to find us another market.”

Motor Industry Also Under Threat

Beyond agriculture, the automotive sector, a critical part of South Africa’s manufacturing base, is also in the firing line. Freedom Front Plus MP Jaco Mulder said the tariffs were clearly tied to geopolitical tensions, especially South Africa’s growing alignment with Brics countries like Russia and China nations the US considers hostile.

“This is economic retaliation dressed as trade policy,” said Mulder. “It’s not just farmers manufacturers, textile producers, and small exporters are all vulnerable. Jobs will be lost, and export revenues will shrink.”

Agoa Undermined, Is SA Losing Its US Trade Privileges?

When Trump imposed a blanket 30% tariff on top of existing sector-specific duties like the 25% on cars, the benefits of Agoa became nearly irrelevant. For exporters used to duty-free access to the US, this is a crushing blow.

And the frustration isn’t just about economics. “This feels political,” said one wine producer from Stellenbosch, asking not to be named. “We’re paying the price for government diplomacy that ignores real-world consequences.”

“A Missed Opportunity to Act”

What angers many in the sector is that the writing was on the wall. There were multiple warnings about deteriorating trade relations with Washington. And yet, no visible effort from Pretoria to fix it.

With Ramaphosa currently at the BRICS Summit in Brazil, farmers and exporters are left waiting — and wondering if help will ever come.

“If our leaders had engaged when it mattered, this could have been avoided,” De Jager said. “Instead, we’re looking at another own goal and a devastating one at that.”Exporters and stakeholders are encouraged to contact their trade associations and local MPs to press for an urgent resolution. The window to reverse or soften these tariffs is closing fast and the pressure needs to be on.

{Source: The Citizen}

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