South Africa’s Poultry Industry Pushes Back Against U.S. Import Deal, Demands Transparency

Tensions are rising in South Africa’s agricultural sector as the country’s poultry industry confronts government silence over a controversial import quota favoring U.S. exporters. Industry leaders say the recent move to expand tariff-free poultry imports from the United States threatens to destabilize local production, undermine jobs, and tilt the playing field in favor of foreign competition. The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) is demanding immediate clarity from Trade Minister Parks Tau, following his public endorsement of a trade deal that could open the market further to U.S. poultry—without prior consultation with the local sector.

Source: The Mail & Guardian

Producers fear the growing import volumes, now reportedly raised from 65,000 to 72,000 tonnes, could flood the market, displace local products, and reverse hard-won progress made in building domestic capacity. SAPA argues that while the United States enjoys quota-based, tariff-free access, South African poultry has no meaningful path into U.S. markets—creating a deeply unequal trade dynamic. The association has repeatedly called for the government to cancel the existing quota and engage the industry in all future negotiations, warning that failure to act could lead to farm closures, rising unemployment, and a serious blow to national food security.

Despite a high-level meeting in May, where SAPA laid out its concerns directly to the minister, there has been no official follow-up or response—fueling frustration within the industry. Producers say the July 29 announcement, which highlighted the potential economic gains of easing poultry imports, came as a surprise and sidelined a critical sector that contributes significantly to the country’s food supply and rural employment.

The industry now fears that without urgent intervention, South Africa’s poultry market could be left vulnerable to cheap, subsidized imports, while local farmers are forced to absorb the economic fallout. SAPA insists it is not opposed to fair trade, but believes current arrangements lack reciprocity and transparency. The association says protecting the domestic industry must become a policy priority, not an afterthought in global negotiations.

Farmers and processors across the country are rallying behind SAPA’s call for answers. They believe any future trade agreement must reflect a two-way street—one that strengthens local industries rather than sacrificing them for short-term diplomatic or economic gain. The poultry sector, already grappling with rising feed prices and energy challenges, sees this moment as a critical turning point that will determine whether it can thrive or merely survive.

As pressure mounts, the government is being urged to demonstrate that it values its agricultural backbone. For the poultry industry, this isn’t just about trade—it’s about fairness, food security, and the future of thousands of South African livelihoods.