South Africa Requests Tariff Exemption in U.S. Forced-Labor Trade Probe Covering Dozens of Countries

South Africa has asked the United States to exempt it from proposed tariffs linked to a Section 301 investigation examining whether at least 60 economies adequately enforce bans on imports of goods made with forced labor. A delegation led by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition appeared before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in Washington this week.

The group stressed that South Africa has ratified key International Labor Organization conventions prohibiting forced labor and maintains legislation allowing authorities to block imports produced using forced labor. Goods produced through prison labor are already prohibited under South African law. The delegation urged Washington not to impose a proposed 12.5% tariff on South African exports.

It requested exemptions for platinum group metals, vehicles, citrus, seafood, wine, and nuts, arguing there was no evidence these products were produced using forced labor. Trade relations between Washington and Pretoria have become increasingly strained in recent years over tariffs, domestic policies, and foreign policy differences.

Market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a program that has supported billions of dollars in exports from sub-Saharan Africa and is due to expire unless renewed by Congress. South Africa's Trade Minister Parks Tau said the U.S. remained an important trading partner.

He added that the government would continue to engage with Washington on the probe and other issues, such as existing U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. After the hearing, the U.S. trade office gave time for additional submissions by Thursday before it was to make a decision.