Clock is ticking for SA wine exports to the US

South African wine exporters now have a hard deadline, and little room to manoeuvre, after US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff order will apply once the 90-day reprieve evaporates on 9 July.

- By Kara le Roux

This is according to a 5 May update sent by South Africa Wine, the industry’s umbrella body, to its members.

"According to our interpretation, goods shipped and in transit before 6.01am South African Standard Time on 9 July 2025 will face only a 10% tariff, while those arriving later will be hit with the full 30% surcharge,” said Christo Conradie, stakeholder engagement, market access and policy manager at South Africa Wine.

This tariff gauntlet flows from Trump’s 2 April executive order, which shook up existing trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).