Botswana President Duma Boko. Picture: X/BWPresidency It seems South Africa’s exports are under siege, with countries either banning imports from the country or imposing higher tariffs. Earlier this year, United States (US) President Donald Trump imposed higher tariffs on imports from South Africa, citing that he wants to make America great again, as higher tariffs will force Americans to stop importing products from other parts of the world.
Recently, Botswana banned vegetable imports from neighbouring countries, including South Africa, in a move to force people to buy local. However, South Africa is never this aggressive; it instead launches campaigns such as Proudly SA’s Buy Local to motivate people to support local businesses. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), said practices of some countries in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) are worrying, as there have been countries restricting imports of agricultural products on short notice, with limited communication to other countries.
“Namibia and Botswana are the major culprits of this practice,” he said. “They blocked South Africa’s vegetable imports in 2021 and at various points in subsequent years.” It is understood that vegetables are still banned from being exported to Namibia. Sihlobo said the vegetables banned from export to Botswana include tomato, potato, white cabbage, red cabbage, white onion, red onion, watermelon, green papaya, beetroot, carrot, lettuce, strawberry, ginger, red and yellow peppers, garlic, and butternut.
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“I sympathise with supporting local farmers and reducing their dependence on South Africa,” he said. “But I am uneasy with the drastic policy changes, with minimal consideration for regional ambitions.”
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