Steenhuisen optimistic about collaboration to combat US tariffs

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen on Tuesday said he was looking forward to working with Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau to seek a way to avoid the US 30% tariff for the agricultural sector.

Presenting the department's budget in the National Assembly, Steenhuisen noted that US President Donald Trump sent a letter to a number of countries, including South Africa, announcing his intention to persist with the 30% tariff on South African goods and produce exported into the US from August 1.

He said the agricultural sector remained particularly exposed in areas of citrus, wine, nuts and table grape.

“Now more than ever it highlights the need for urgent reforms in South Africa so that we can ensure our economy meets the requirements of our trading partners around the world.

“I look forward to work with Minister Tau and others in the coming weeks to urgently seek a ways through this impasse and to ensure we avoid a 30% tariff for our agricultural sector,” he said.

Steenhuisen said the budget was grounded in the 2025-30 strategic plan articulated on seven strategic priorities.

These were partnerships for growth, a modern and progressive legislative environment, improving market access, providing effective farmer support, strengthening biosecurity and disaster preparedness.

He further said they were implementing the 2024-2029 National Food and Nutrition Security Plan that was coordinated with the departments of health, education, social development, and environment.

ANC MP Dina Pule said the budget continued to prioritise food security initiatives from community and school nutrition guidance to commission food production schemes while also easing the cost of living by expanding the free food basket food.

“Food security is not achievable without active inclusion of our thousands of small-scale and subsistence farmers across the country.”

Pule urged all to support the budget, saying it was truly a budget for security and inclusion because the food security and farmer support programs received the largest allocation from the vote.

In rejecting the budget, MK Party’s Andile Mngxitama said over 15% of the nation was without food security.

“However, this sector, which is white agriculture, is produced for export markets. Our people eat heads and feet of chicken. The much praised white agricultural sector can't produce enough chicken to feed the nation. The state has created a conducive environment for exports to thrive.  That is why the minister is lamenting the fact that Trump has imposed those tariffs,” said Mngxitama.

He also said the budget vote does not contribute to dismantling the apartheid and colonial agricultural sector.

EFF MP Kenneth Montwedi said the budget failed to appreciate the challenges faced by the agricultural sector and did not bring any tangible solution to addressing such.

He said the country was in a man-made crisis of foot and mouth disease because the minister dropped the ball and dissolved a multidisciplinary team established by former minister Thoko Didiza.

“We must locate the current challenges of foot and mouth disease right on the doorstep of the Minister of Agriculture,” Montwedi added.

Cape Argus