SAPPA Strengthens Trade Ties with China at High-Level Embassy Meeting

On Friday, 30 January, the South African Pecan Nut Producers Association (SAPPA) paid a strategic visit to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Pretoria, marking an important step forward in strengthening trade relations between the two countries.

The meeting was guided by two key objectives:

1. To deepen the mutually beneficial trade relationship between South Africa and China, and
2. To discuss the current 7% trade tariff on pecan nuts, including the possibility of reducing the tariff to 0%.

SAPPA representatives met with Ambassador Wu Peng, Mr Qiu Zhongyi (Economic and Commercial Counsellor), and Ms Katherine Yang (Attaché). Ambassador Wu expressed his appreciation for the pecan industry’s strong engagement with China, particularly the consistent efforts made by South Africa to visit buyers, attend trade shows and maintain close commercial relationships.

A key topic of discussion was the ongoing challenge Chinese buyers face in obtaining visas to visit South Africa. SAPPA highlighted the importance of buyer visits in building trust, expanding trade, and strengthening long-term partnerships.

Ambassador Wu reassured SAPPA of his continued support for the pecan nut industry, noting that he would keep a watchful eye on the sector and assist wherever possible. He also shared plans to personally visit the Northern Cape, South Africa’s major pecan-producing region, to gain firsthand insight into the industry.

Regarding the current trade tariff, Ambassador Wu is optimistic that tariff negotiations may soon be placed on the agenda.

Since the visit, positive developments have further strengthened this outlook. News has emerged that Minister Parks Tau and China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, have signed a Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Prosperity. This landmark agreement sets the stage for negotiations toward an Early Harvest Agreement, expected to be concluded by March 2026.

Once implemented, the agreement is expected to provide duty-free access for South African exports to China and significantly enhance Chinese investment in South Africa. The Comprehensive Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Prosperity (CAEPA) covers several key areas, including:

1. Trade Cooperation
   II. Investment Cooperation
   III. New Energy Cooperation
   IV. Multilateral Cooperation

This agreement represents a major opportunity for the South African pecan industry and reinforces the importance of SAPPA’s ongoing engagement with Chinese stakeholders.

For more information on the signed framework agreement, please refer to the official article: https://www.thedtic.gov.za/minister-tau-signs-framework-agreement-on-economic-partnership-for-shared-prosperity-caepa/