South African citrus farmers are raising alarm over renewed U.S. tariffs that could severely impact exports and put up to 35,000 agricultural jobs at risk. The warning comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump signals a return to protectionist trade measures, including tariffs on agricultural imports, if re-elected.
South Africa is a leading global citrus exporter and relies heavily on markets like the United States to sustain its agricultural sector. According to industry stakeholders, new or reinstated tariffs would drastically reduce competitiveness, driving up export costs and forcing many farms to cut jobs or shut down operations entirely.
“Tariffs of this magnitude would cripple the industry,” said a senior representative of the Citrus Growers Association. “We’re not just talking numbers—these are real jobs, families, and rural economies that depend on citrus exports.” 
The citrus sector supports thousands of livelihoods in South Africa’s Eastern and Western Cape provinces, with smallholder farmers especially vulnerable to any trade disruption. Currently, the U.S. is one of South Africa’s top citrus destinations, with millions of cartons shipped annually under favorable terms—terms that could now be stripped away.
With global trade increasingly influenced by political shifts, South African farmers are calling for urgent diplomatic engagement to safeguard export channels. As fears mount over Trump’s potential return and the ripple effect on international markets, the citrus industry stands at a critical crossroads. The future of thousands of jobs may hinge on decisions far beyond South Africa’s borders.
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