The US Trade Representative has proposed new 12.5% tariffs on South Africa and 44 other nations including China, India and Australia over alleged failures to enforce bans on goods made with forced labour. Source AAP, EPA / Samuel Corum
The United States has proposed new 12.5% tariffs on South Africa and 44 other nations. The Trump 12.5% tariffs target countries the US accuses of failing to enforce bans on goods made with forced labour. Furthermore, South Africa is among the hardest hit alongside China, India, Australia and Brazil. The proposal was published by the US Trade Representative on Wednesday 3 June 2026.
Trump 12.5% Tariffs: What the US Is Claiming
The Office of the US Trade Representative published a Section 301 report on Wednesday 3 June 2026. The report investigated 60 economies. USTR Ambassador Jamieson Greer led the investigation. The report found that 45 countries, including South Africa, had failed to enforce bans on goods made with forced labour. As a result, the US proposed a 12.5% additional tariff on imports from those countries.
A separate group of 15 countries including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico face a lower 10% tariff. The US determined those countries had partial plans in place. However, they were still found to be insufficiently compliant. Furthermore, raw materials critical to US manufacturing, including platinum and rare earth minerals, are selectively exempt from the new tariffs.
“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable,” Greer said in a statement accompanying the report.
Why This Is Happening Now
The new tariffs represent a strategic shift by the Trump administration. In February 2026, the US Supreme Court struck down Trump’s original 30% Liberation Day tariffs which had been imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. As a result, those tariffs collapsed. However, the Supreme Court ruling left Trump looking for alternative legal mechanisms to impose trade barriers. Therefore, the new Section 301 forced labour investigation provides a fresh legal basis for rebuilding protective economic walls around US markets.
The previous 30% tariffs had already caused significant damage to South Africa. South African automotive exports to the US plunged 82.2% under the original tariff regime. Furthermore, the citrus sector warned of 35,000 job losses. The new 12.5% proposal, while lower than the previous 30%, adds a fresh layer of trade pressure on a country still recovering from the earlier disruption.
Which Countries Are Affected
South Africa sits alongside some of the world’s largest economies in the 12.5% tariff group. China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Switzerland and Nigeria are among the 45 countries facing the higher rate. Furthermore, Australia is also in the 12.5% group. As a result, the tariffs affect countries across every continent and represent one of the broadest trade actions the US has taken in modern history.
Eight African countries are specifically targeted by the new measures. However, platinum and rare earth minerals exported from South Africa are exempt. The US depends heavily on South African platinum for its own manufacturing sector. Therefore, the exemption reflects Washington’s recognition that punishing South African mineral exports would ultimately harm American industry.
South Africa’s Reaction
The South African government had not issued a formal response to the new 12.5% tariff proposal at the time of publication. However, Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau has been actively engaged in trade negotiations with Washington for months. Furthermore, South Africa has already pivoted significantly toward China and other markets in response to the previous tariff pressures. As a result, the government is expected to pursue both diplomatic negotiations and continued export diversification in response to the latest development.
The European Union described the US findings as utterly absurd. Furthermore, the EU bristled at the accusation that it is less effective than the United States at curbing forced labour in supply chains. Therefore, the new tariffs are likely to generate significant multilateral diplomatic pushback in the weeks ahead.
What Happens Next
The 12.5% tariffs are currently a proposal. A formal comment and review period is expected before they take effect. Furthermore, affected countries will have the opportunity to engage with the USTR process before final implementation. However, given the Trump administration’s track record of moving quickly on trade actions, businesses and governments are already preparing for the possibility that the tariffs could be implemented in the near term.
For more information on US trade policy visit ustr.gov.
Editors Note The 12.5% tariffs referenced in this article are a proposal published by the USTR on 3 June 2026. They have not yet taken effect. A formal review process is expected before implementation. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further developments emerge.