Tag: TradePolicy

Two top trade experts with popular economics podcasts argue for a new way of operating between the biggest economic powers in the world. We used to take trade for granted. However, that is no longer the case. Everything we know about trade has changed. Trump's tariffs have disrupted long-established assumptions and thrown the global trading system into uncertainty.

We have acknowledged the recent implementation of anti-dumping tariff measures on selected steel imports. The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) published these measures on 20 March 2026. While we support the intention behind these measures, the organisation has also raised concerns about unintended consequences emerging within the market.

South Africa is currently walking a high-stakes tightrope. As we enter February 2026, the agricultural sector faces a perfect storm. Domestic animal health emergencies and international trade politics have become inextricably linked. On one side, the Department of Agriculture has launched an ambitious 10-year strategy to combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). This strategy represents an R80 billion battle for the survival of our national herd.

The possible extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) comes at a moment of extraordinary geopolitical strain. Traditional allies are openly divided. Global trade is increasingly weaponised. Countries now face growing pressure to choose sides. At the same time, the United States has adopted a more protectionist posture. Its strategic rivalry with China, Russia, South America and Iran continues to intensify.