00:00Citrus Dahl, a small western Cape town that gets its name from its most famous export.
00:07The oranges, satsumas and mandarins planted on these hills and valleys are destined for the United States.
00:14But farmers here, like Gerard van Amerwa, are now facing uncertain times thanks to Donald Trump.
00:22The U.S. administration announced a 31% tariff on South African goods.
00:30The tariffs have been put on hold for three months after a violent reaction from the stock markets.
00:35But farmers don't know what might come next.
00:39The whole community, the workers, the pickers, there's a lot of anxiety around.
00:43Nobody knows what's going on.
00:45They're looking at the leaders of the community to help us solve the problem.
00:49But for now it's uncertainty and in any uncertain environment business doesn't fry.
00:55The Trump administration says it's ready to negotiate with different countries.
01:00And van Amerwa believes South African farmers are in a strong position.
01:04We farm with citrus out of season, out of California, so we're not competition.
01:08We're only complementary to the Californian side.
01:11For the American consumer, we'll provide them for cheaper, fresh fruits and vegetables on a yearly basis.
01:16And surely that's a net positive for the U.S. consumer.
01:20This packaging plant will kick into high gear in just a few weeks, preparing fruits to be shipped to the U.S.
01:28Seven million cartons of fruit leave the Citrus Dull area each year, destined for the U.S. market.
01:35It's a $98 million industry, which supports thousands of seasonal and permanent workers.
01:43And so the Trump tariffs are really a bread and butter issue here,
01:47with farmers worried about how they'll keep their businesses alive
01:51and workers concerned about how they'll feed their families.
01:54The uncertainty created by the Trump administration has left line manager Shimonli Matala worried.
02:03In peak season, she oversees 160 workers, many who support large families with their income.
02:11I'm supporting my family of nine in the house with my money that I've made here every month.
02:18So yes, it's pretty important to me that we export to the U.S.A.
02:22When we pack to the U.S.A., that's where the overtime comes in.
02:25And when the overtime comes in, that's where you make more money.
02:28The mayor of the region, which includes Citrus Dull, is Dr. Ruben Richards.
02:33He's also a farmer and says the South African government should take a non-political approach when negotiating with Trump.
02:41Donald Trump is not a politician.
02:44He's a business person.
02:47And a business person must engage with another business person to make a deal.
02:54The South African government has said it will support farmers by reaching out to other markets like China, the Middle East and Europe.
03:04But farmers here say changing industries is a slow and difficult process.
03:10They believe that the priority should be negotiating a deal that will get these boxes to U.S. shores at a price that will keep the workers employed.
03:24Now they think that they should be doing business.
03:27They think all are important to you as a Presbyterian companies are doing business.
03:28So we don't see the good things they do.
03:29They're doing business.
03:30They think people might be doing business.
03:32But there are also jobs that we can also establish that business in delivering üzerine sector.
03:33And they both private business.
03:35They give a great confidence that one of the areas of the challenges within the world.
03:38They also say changing industry.
03:39It can be interesting.
03:41So the same thing that Internet market business means� LEADSYM.
03:43Which is how's the contra bueno.
03:44So I'm accepting business.
03:46About it方 is talking about whether it's the same thing that the wrongission in under VA surgeons means.
03:49The same thing is being made about right now are just 5 daycare engines to be ourselves.
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