South Africa’s citrus industry is a lifeline for many rural communities, providing jobs and supporting local services through its vibrant orchards. But new U.S. import tariffs, jumping from 10% to 30%, threaten to make exporting fruit costly, risking delays, spoilage, and lost income. Farmers and workers worry that these trade rules could disrupt their way of life, while leaders plead for more time to negotiate fairer terms. This struggle shows how global trade decisions ripple far beyond borders, touching real people whose futures depend on every carton shipped.
