Exporters Must Gear Up For Growing Protectionism

South Africa must focus on strengthening and revitalising relations with its trade partners beyond Europe, according to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist for the Agricultural Business Chamber Agbiz.

For South Africa's long-term agriculture growth strategy, export markets are a fundamental part of its success. Agribusiness and farmers should now, more than before, put more emphasis on this matter in their various engagements with government and international stakeholders, he said.

This comes as US President Donald Trump followed through with election promises to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China, resulting in increased trade friction around the world.

In the coming years, as trade friction persists globally, we suspect that there will likely be a change in various regions' trade approaches, with some preferring more protectionism for their markets in general, said Sihlobo.