Zuko Komisa

SA Minister of Trade Ebrahim Patel applauds China’s reduction of tariff rates on imports of rooibos tea.
The decision by the People’s Republic of China to significantly lower tariff rates on South African Rooibos tea imports has been welcomed by the government.
The South Africa Trade Ministry has said that The Rooibos Council of South Africa estimates that over 5,000 people are employed in South Africa’s Rooibos industry, which produces about 20,000 tons of Rooibos annually.
Out of the 45 countries that currently import Rooibos tea, China ranked as the seventh-largest recipient market in 2023 for South African Rooibos tea.
At the World Customs Organization (WCO), South Africa took the lead in pursuing a tariff code exclusive to rooibos tea.
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Minister Patel applauded the State Council of China’s Customs Tariff Commission’s decision. The change will take effect on January 1, 2024.
“Our Rooibos tea is refreshing, delicious, and healthy. This decision will enable more South African Rooibos tea to be available to Chinese tea drinkers, creating more jobs in South Africa. Rooibos exporters can now ramp up their exports of tea to China!”.
“China is currently South Africa’s largest global trading partner, with Chinese customs reporting two-way trade of more than R900 billion. We look forward to continuing our engagements with our Chinese counterparts as we seek to shift our exports from mainly minerals to a greater basket of value-added agricultural and industrial products.
“I wish to commend Minister [of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development] Thoko Didiza and her team for the close collaboration and hard work to get this decision finalised,”
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel
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