Agriculture & Food

South Africa will suspend anti-dumping duties on chicken imports from Brazil and four EU countries (Denmark, Ireland, Poland and Spain) for at least a year.

South Africa will suspend anti-dumping duties on chicken imports from Brazil and four EU countries (Denmark, Ireland, Poland and Spain) for at least a year, according to a report on the South African Moneybag website on August 2.

In 2021, the International Trade Administration (Itac) conducted an investigation into the anti-dumping duties of the above-mentioned five countries and determined that the chickens from these five countries were sold in South Africa at extremely low prices, causing "substantial damage" to the local poultry industry. Pending the completion of the Itac investigation, the South African government has decided to impose temporary anti-dumping duties from December 2021 to June 2022 to combat "predatory and unfair" trade.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ibrahim Patel said the decision to suspend anti-dumping was necessary given the current rapid rise in local and global food prices and its significant impact on the poor.

The South African Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) applauded the move, saying it means many consumers living below the poverty line will be more able to afford this important source of protein.