South Africa plans to introduce regulations prohibiting the importation of goods produced wholly or partly through forced labour and child labour after the United States imposed a 12.5% tariff on most South African exports.
The move follows Washington's decision to impose the tariff under a Section 301 forced-labour trade action after concluding that South Africa had not adequately prohibited and enforced bans on imports produced with forced labour. As Freight News reported, the duty took effect on Friday, replacing the temporary 10% tariff that had applied during the investigation.
Government would continue engaging with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) while introducing the proposed regulations, said Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau in a statement.
Government would publish a Government Gazette notice calling for public comment on regulations prohibiting the import of goods produced wholly or partly through forced labour and child labour, Tau said. The commitment was made during public hearings in Washington earlier this month.
"South Africa remains committed to implementing and strengthening measures to prohibit the importation of goods produced through forced labour and child labour."
Tau said the regulations would reinforce South Africa's commitment to international labour standards while addressing concerns raised during the USTR investigation.
During the Section 301 investigation, South Africa argued that the International Trade Administration Act already empowered the national executive to prohibit imports of specific goods, while the Customs and Excise Act enabled prohibited goods to be detained and seized at the border.
Tau said a range of South African exports remained exempt from the new tariff, including platinum group metals and other precious metals, pharmaceuticals, civil aircraft and components, as well as a number of agricultural products such as macadamia nuts, citrus, tea, spices and cane sugar.
“Government will continue to engage with the USTR on the Section 301 tariffs with a view to either eliminating or reducing the current tariff imposed on our country,” Tau said.
