United States gives South Africa another deadline
The United States Trade Office has given South Africa and other countries involved in its Section 301 hearings until 16 July to make post-hearing submissions.
This follows the oral briefings held last week, where South Africa urged the USA to exempt it from a proposed 12.5% tariff linked to the importation of goods produced using forced labour.
The South African Government delegation, led by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), participated in the public hearing on the US Section 301 Investigations on Forced Labour.
The hearing concerned the Section 301 Investigations into the Acts, Policies, and Practices of 60 Economies Related to the Failure to Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labour.
“In the oral testimony, South Africa emphasised that the country has laws that prohibit forced labour and that the country has ratified the relevant International Labour Organisation fundamental Conventions,” the DTIC said.
“Further, South Africa has the legal framework to enforce the prohibition of the importation of goods produced using forced labour.”
The DTIC maintained that South Africa has enabling legislation containing provisions that can be invoked to address forced labour and to administer and enforce a prohibition on the import of goods made in whole or in part by forced labour.
It added that the International Trade Administration Act empowers the relevant National Executive to prohibit or control the importation of any class of goods.
The Customs and Excise Act also empowers the SARS to stop, detain and seize prohibited goods at the border.
South Africa already prohibits products produced through prison labour through Section 113 of the Customs and Excise Act, the department said.
“As a result, South Africa requested that the United States consider exempting the country from the 12.5% tariff proposed for countries that failed to impose and effectively enforce the prohibition of importation of goods produced using forced labour,” said the department.
In the alternative, a proposal was made that South Africa’s exports to the United States, such as platinum-group and precious metals, vehicles, catamarans, citrus, seafood, wine and nuts, among others, be exempted from any proposed action as there is no evidence that the inputs are produced using forced labour.
The Office of USTR requested that stakeholders submit post-hearing submissions by 16 July 2026.
Information for stakeholders wishing to make submissions on the Investigations is available on the USTR website.
According to Minister Parks Tau, the United States remains an important trade partner and destination for South African exports.
“Government will continue bilateral engagements with the United States on all matters of interest, including on Section 301 investigations, renewal of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Section 232 tariffs that affect South African exports of steel and aluminium, and automobiles and auto components,” he said.
The DTIC was supported by the Department of Employment and Labour, the International Trade Administration Commission and the Embassy of South Africa in Washington DC.
With SA News
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