The US Supreme Court has ruled that many tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump are illegal, including a 30% levy on South African goods. Agricultural economist Thabile Nkunjana states this could provide significant relief to South Africa's farming industry. Exports to the US had plummeted due to these tariffs.
The US Supreme Court recently ruled that numerous tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump last year are unlawful. Among these is a 30% tariff applied to imports from South Africa, which has strained the country's agricultural exports.
Thabile Nkunjana, an agricultural economist, highlighted the potential positive impact on South Africa's sector if the ruling leads to the tariffs being scrapped. She noted that while the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has offered some benefits, many agricultural products continue to encounter high barriers in the US market.
"The reality is that for South Africa, this will bring some serious relief, especially given the data itself. Because we saw that our exports to the US, they plummeted significantly. So, therefore, those tariffs were really beginning to put on some pressure and that we are even expecting even more for 2026. But now this kind of changes that," Nkunjana explained.
This development comes amid broader trade tensions, with South African exports to the US experiencing a sharp decline. The ruling, if implemented, could ease these pressures and support recovery in the agricultural field, which has been anticipating further challenges in 2026.