South African exporters are haemorrhaging billions in unnecessary tariffs in Britain, despite a trade deal designed to give them duty-free access.
Business Day reports that figures presented at a seminar hosted by the trade department, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the British High Commission showed how badly the post-Brexit SACUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement is being underused.
In 2024 alone, vehicles worth 114m R2.7bn were hit with Britains standard 10 tariff instead of entering duty-free. A further 40m R956m in wine and 18m R430m in fruit and nuts including 3m R72m in avocados that qualify for zero duties also faced tariffs.