SATI Responds to Latest USA Tariff Adjustments
While this development represents a constructive step towards levelling the playing field in global agricultural trade, SATI is concerned that key South African agricultural exports — including table grapes, soft citrus and other deciduous fruits — were not included among the exempted products.
These exclusions mean that South African fruit exporters continue to face significant cost pressures when entering the USA market, despite South Africa’s longstanding position as a reliable, counter-seasonal supplier of fresh grapes to USA importers and consumers.
“We welcome any movement towards tariff reduction,” says SATI CEO, Mecia Petersen. “However, it is disappointing that table grapes were excluded from the list of exempted products, given the USA’s reliance on imported grapes. Our industry is committed to supplying high-quality fruit to global markets, including the USA, and we strongly believe that South Africa should be afforded fair and equal treatment alongside other Southern Hemisphere suppliers, who currently enjoy reciprocal tariff rates much lower than South Africa’s.”
“By volume, South Africa is the 4th largest exporter of table grapes in the world and the third largest in the Southern Hemisphere (±400,000 tonnes exported in 2024 calendar year). We have been supplying the USA for more than 20 years, and the industry has invested in resources that enable South Africa to meet the USA market’s high specifications.”
SATI, together with the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) and the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), will urgently submit a formal motivation to the USA Trade Representative requesting clarity on how product exemptions were determined and appealing for the inclusion of South African table grapes and other affected commodities, to lower prices for USA consumers.
South Africa has now entered the 2025/26 table grape export season, and the USA market remains challenging due to higher tariff levels applied to South African grapes relative to competitors such as Chile and Peru. These higher duties raise the landed cost of South African fruit and limit the industry’s ability to compete effectively in this important market.
In the 2024/25 season, South Africa exported approximately 2.2 million 4.5 kg cartons (9,900 tonnes) of table grapes to the USA, valued at roughly R360 million (US$21 million). This increased from 1.3 million 4.5 kg cartons (6,000 tonnes) in 2023/24, indicative of the positive trend in the USA’s demand for South African table grapes.
SATI remains committed to supporting its members through ongoing market access negotiations, sustained industry-government collaboration, and proactive engagement with international trade partners.
“We will continue to support the government’s efforts to negotiate a fair tariff regime that places South Africa on a level playing field with other Southern Hemisphere producers,” said Petersen.
ISSUED BY SATI
Enquiries:
SATI
Denene Erasmus
Market Development and Communications Manager
+2721 863 0366
About SATI
SATI is the unified South African Table Grape Industry Association. All table grape producers are required to register with SATI, which is mandated by law as the industry’s official levy administrator. The levy is required to fund and facilitate market access and development, research and technology, information provision, transformation, and training. SATI is dedicated to operating a partnership that strives to maintain South Africa’s position as the preferred country of origin for retailers around the world. Contact: info@satgi.co.za