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The South African government plans to use the 90-day suspension of the imposition of “reciprocal” tariffs by the United States to try to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the US that benefits both countries.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as his special envoy to the United States.

South African producers and manufacturers face multiple tariffs in terms of recent announcements by the United States president, Donald Trump.

South Africa’s attempts to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States might be complicated by continuing hostility from US president Donald Trump.

The South African poultry industry intends applying for an end to a duty-free quota for chicken imports from the United States.

South African citrus producers and their workers are already feeling the effects of the new United States import tariffs.

South Africa should use its remaining term as leader of the G20 group of countries to help drive the African continent’s food security agenda.

South Africa’s farmers and manufacturers are being urged to diversify their exports in order to minimise the damage being done by the high tariff barriers President Donald Trump is erecting around America.

The South African government needs to move much faster to open export market opportunities for South African farmers, according to agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.

While tariffs can serve as important tools in addressing unfair global trade practices and protecting national interests, experts caution against sweeping measures that may trigger economic instability or political fallout.

FairPlay founder Francois Baird has included the new US tariff policy in a look at global current affairs through an analogy with famous movies.

Chicken is positioned as the protein winner in the United States in 2025, according to an article in WATT Poultry.

Britain has confirmed that a sheep in Yorkshire contracted bird flu. The disease has been reported in a number of mammals around the world, and in multiple dairy cattle herds in the United States, but this is the first reported case of the virus infecting a sheep.

Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has called for a “whole-of-society” approach to upgrade South Africa’s agricultural biosecurity and protect the country against animal and crop diseases.

The focus on biosecurity is echoed in a report in The Guardian focusing on the increasing number of bird flu reinfections at poultry operations in the United States.

The huge increase in the production of soybeans – together with maize, a key component of poultry feed – has been highlighted as a South African agricultural success story.

American poultry producers have been advised that bird flu is becoming a permanent feature in the United States and they should adjust their policies for this “new normal”.

United States customs officials are encountering a new phenomenon – increasing incidents of Americans smuggling eggs into the country because they are cheaper across the border.

South Africa’s agriculture department has confirmed that talks would be held with poultry industry leaders to overcome the impasse that is preventing the start of a vaccination programme against bird flu.

In addition to the discussions that might get a bird flu vaccination programme underway, FairPlay has urged agriculture minister John Steenhuisen to intervene on another bird flu control measure – the payment of compensation to farmers for chickens culled during bird flu outbreaks.

South Africa’s farmers are the most optimistic they have been for years, despite the threat of United States tariffs and the potential loss of duty-free access to US markets.

South Africa’s food inflation rate edged up in February, but remained lower than general inflation and below the government’s inflation target.

Bird flu could threaten the world’s largest breeding population of wandering albatrosses, following confirmation of the virus in birds on Marion Island, a sub-Antarctic island teeming with sea birds. It is part of the Edward Islands, administered by South Africa.

The need for urgent action by the South African government to prevent another disastrous bird flu outbreak was stressed by poultry experts during a webinar on bird flu.

The world was “on the edge of a precipice” because of the danger of bird flu mutating into a global human pandemic.

The list of food products the government plans to free from value added tax (VAT) was disappointing and would not help low-income households as much as was hoped, according to tax expert Charles de Wet.

South Africa’s chicken imports remain unpredictable in 2025, with high volumes of offal and MDM driving growth while bird flu continues to limit supplies from the US and EU.

South Africa’s poultry industry is hoping for a breakthrough in exports this year, with EU inspections in May potentially opening doors for cooked chicken exports.

South Africa’s agricultural sector should prioritise fixing local challenges like infrastructure and crime over being distracted by global trade risks, says agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo.

Millions of poor South Africans would suffer if value added tax is increased, said FairPlay founder Francois Baird.

South Africa’s presidency of the G20 group of countries could be a defining moment for the country’s agricultural sector, according to agricultural economist Thulasizwe Mkhabela.

Rainbow CEO Marthinus Stander used the company announcement to further his argument that cheaper chicken results from the economies of scale of South Africa’s large poultry producers.

Brazil is likely to benefit more than any other country from increasing global demand for chicken, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).