A farming town in South Africa is breathing a sigh of relief after US President Donald Trump announced a three-month pause to planned import tariffs. Citrusdal exports millions of oranges to US markets. While the tariff has been put on hold, the farmers say the uncertainty is damaging their business.
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00:00Citrus Dahl, a small western Cape town that gets its name from its most famous export.
00:07The oranges, satsumas and mandarins planted on these hills and valleys are destined for the United States.
00:14But farmers here, like Gerard van Amerwa, are now facing uncertain times thanks to Donald Trump.
00:22The U.S. administration announced a 31% tariff on South African goods.
00:30The tariffs have been put on hold for three months after a violent reaction from the stock markets.
00:35But farmers don't know what might come next.
00:39The whole community, the workers, the pickers, there's a lot of anxiety around.
00:43Nobody knows what's going on.
00:45They're looking at the leaders of the community to help us solve the problem.
00:49But for now it's uncertainty and in any uncertain environment business doesn't fry.
00:55The Trump administration says it's ready to negotiate with different countries.
01:00And van Amerwa believes South African farmers are in a strong position.
01:04We farm with citrus out of season, out of California, so we're not competition.
01:08We're only complementary to the Californian side.
01:11For the American consumer, we'll provide them for cheaper, fresh fruits and vegetables on a yearly basis.
01:16And surely that's a net positive for the U.S. consumer.
01:20This packaging plant will kick into high gear in just a few weeks, preparing fruits to be shipped to the U.S.
01:28Seven million cartons of fruit leave the Citrus Dull area each year, destined for the U.S. market.
01:35It's a $98 million industry, which supports thousands of seasonal and permanent workers.
01:43And so the Trump tariffs are really a bread and butter issue here,
01:47with farmers worried about how they'll keep their businesses alive
01:51and workers concerned about how they'll feed their families.
01:54The uncertainty created by the Trump administration has left line manager Shimonli Matala worried.
02:03In peak season, she oversees 160 workers, many who support large families with their income.
02:11I'm supporting my family of nine in the house with my money that I've made here every month.
02:18So yes, it's pretty important to me that we export to the U.S.A.
02:22When we pack to the U.S.A., that's where the overtime comes in.
02:25And when the overtime comes in, that's where you make more money.
02:28The mayor of the region, which includes Citrus Dull, is Dr. Ruben Richards.
02:33He's also a farmer and says the South African government should take a non-political approach when negotiating with Trump.
02:41Donald Trump is not a politician.
02:44He's a business person.
02:47And a business person must engage with another business person to make a deal.
02:54The South African government has said it will support farmers by reaching out to other markets like China, the Middle East and Europe.
03:04But farmers here say changing industries is a slow and difficult process.
03:10They believe that the priority should be negotiating a deal that will get these boxes to U.S. shores at a price that will keep the workers employed.
03:24Now they think that they should be doing business.
03:27They think all are important to you as a Presbyterian companies are doing business.
03:28So we don't see the good things they do.
03:29They're doing business.
03:30They think people might be doing business.
03:32But there are also jobs that we can also establish that business in delivering üzerine sector.
03:33And they both private business.
03:35They give a great confidence that one of the areas of the challenges within the world.
03:38They also say changing industry.
03:39It can be interesting.
03:41So the same thing that Internet market business means� LEADSYM.
03:43Which is how's the contra bueno.
03:44So I'm accepting business.
03:46About it方 is talking about whether it's the same thing that the wrongission in under VA surgeons means.
03:49The same thing is being made about right now are just 5 daycare engines to be ourselves.