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On December 22, 2023, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced to again extend the Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusions on 12 agricultural products, including shrimp for cultivation, whey for feed, fishmeal for feed, alfalfa and seven hardwood products through July 31, 2024.

On December 21, 2023, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced its annual tariff adjustment plan that sets tentative import and export tariff rates for select commodities in 2024.

Following three years of travel restrictions due to China’s zero-COVID policy, trade shows are quickly regaining their international participants and audiences.

Despite challenges related to the slow economy, citrus production in China for marketing year (MY) 2023/24 is expected to continue to grow, outperforming other fruit categories.

China ended its three-year long COVID restrictions in late December 2022. Since then, hotels have generally had a robust return of customers, while restaurants performed differently.

Korea's total citrus production is forecast at 570,000 metric tons (MT), a 2.1 percent decline from the previous marketing year (582,000 MT), driven by lower yield for open-field tangerines, and a slight reduction in planted area. As the prices of other domestic and imported fruits rise, consumption of relatively cheap citrus - both imported and domestic - is expected to remain strong.

The Animal Health Directorate in the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) released a progress report on the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak that was first detected in the Western Cape Province in April 2023.

This report contains guidance from the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China for U.S. exporters who continue experiencing difficulties registering their manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities subject to General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC) Decree 248.

South African production of lemons is forecast to rise by 10 percent in MY 2023/24 on sufficient irrigation and greater input investments by producers, while tangerine/mandarins production is forecast to increase by 4 percent.

On December 7, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) announced the registration of 51 genetically engineered (GE) corn and soy varieties, including 37 GE corn varieties and 14 GE soybean varieties.

Based on recent changes to regulations, updated internet links, and revised reporting guidelines, all portions of this report have been updated.

This report has been updated to reflect the newest information and contacts relevant to exporting to South Africa. The FAIRS certificate report includes a list of the main licenses and certificates needed to export food and agricultural products from the United States to South Africa.