Latest news with #ITAC
IOL News
30-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Will a 25% import duty on peanut butter protect South African brands?
Yum Yum's push for import duties: What it means for South African peanut butter consumers In South Africa, peanut butter ranks high on the grocery list of many families, particularly low‑ and middle‑income households. For many households in South Africa, peanut butter is more than a sandwich spread, it's a kitchen essential, a trusted protein source, and a comfort food staple. Now, local producer Yum Yum (under RCL Foods) is urging the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) to endorse a hefty 25 % import duty on all peanut butter imports. What does this bid mean for affordability, local jobs, and our pantry staples at a time when every rand counts? The price gap: Imported vs local Priced at around R48 per 400 g jar for Yum Yum, compared with R49 for Black Cat or R40 for Checkers' Simple Truth, it remains accessible to millions. However imported peanut butter cost far more than their local equivalents. For example, Calvé (imported from the Netherlands) sells for around R840, Teddie (USA) for R786, and chocolate‑flavoured Better 'n Peanut Butter exceeds R1 051. The proposed protection: 25 % duty RCL Foods, owner of Yum Yum along with Ouma Rusks, Nola Mayonnaise and 5Star Maize, formally applied to ITAC to raise the so‑called 'general' customs duty on peanut butter from a negligible 0.99 c/kg to a steep 25 %. RCL argues that importers are undermining local production by dumping low‑cost foreign peanut butter into the South African market. Between 2023 and 2024, imports surged by 24 %. The company said that in response, it has sacrificed sales volume to protect margins, forcing a decline in local market share and that without relief, local manufacturers fear exit from the market, leaving consumers exposed to even higher prices from foreign brands. Weighing the impact for South African consumers Imposing a 25 % duty could raise costs of imported peanut butter further, likely beyond what aspirational consumers are willing to pay, effectively sidelining them. Those who depend on affordable local jars may see minimal immediate impact, yet price hikes could ripple across supply chains. If imported brands retreat, local producers could regain volumes, but at what cost to competition and consumer choice? ITAC's balancing act When alerted to RCL's earlier application, the then trade minister instructed ITAC to weigh the price‑raising effect on consumers, industrial capacity, competition, and value‑chain dynamics before finalising a recommendation. Now, with the latest submissions, ITAC must again assess how protection for local producers aligns with affordability for households that rely on peanut butter as a daily staple. The outcome could reshape the peanut butter market. A 25 % duty could stifle competition and limit access to imports. IOL Lifestyle
Global News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Extremist influencers ‘weaponizing femininity,' warns Canadian intelligence report
Women's workout routines that devolve into anti-government rhetoric. Makeup tutorials with anti-feminist commentary. Personal finance videos that blame immigrants for stealing jobs. According to a Canadian government intelligence report obtained by Global News, extremist movements are 'weaponizing femininity' on social media to attract more women into their ranks. Prepared by Canada's Integrated Threat Assessment Centre (ITAC), the report warns that female 'extremist influencers' are using popular online platforms to radicalize and recruit women. Their strategy: embed hardline messages within 'benign narratives' like motherhood and parenting, allowing them to draw in women who weren't intentionally seeking out extremist content online. 'A body of open-source research shows that women in extremist communities are taking on an active role by creating content specifically on image-based platforms with live streaming capabilities,' it said. Story continues below advertisement 'These women foster a sense of community and create spaces that put their followers at ease, thereby normalizing and mainstreaming extremist rhetoric,' according to the Strategic Intelligence Brief. While it does not name any influencers, it refers to alt-right extremist channels, anti-government rhetoric about COVID-19 lockdowns and 'women-oriented blogs' that promote white supremacy. Most spread extremist ideology, it said, but some go further, fundraising for their causes and even inciting their followers to violence, raising concerns about possible terrorist attacks. Titled 'Weaponizing femininity: female influencers' use of social media to promote extremist narratives,' the report is dated August 2023 but was only recently released publicly under the Access to Information Act. 'While the intelligence assessment is two years old, the phenomenon it identifies has continued, and in some ways, has worsened,' said Eviane Leidig, author of 'The Women of the Far Right: Social Media Influencers and Online Radicalization.' Women and extremism View image in full screen A third of those charged over the pro-Trump insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, were women, an intelligence report says. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Jose Luis Magana. JLM The report's release comes as national security agencies and academic researchers are trying to better understand the role of women in terrorist and extremist groups in the age of social media. Story continues below advertisement Although women have long played prominent roles in violent factions, their contributions are often downplayed, resulting in fewer charges and lesser sentences than their male counterparts. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Only two women have ever been convicted of terrorism offences in Canada. Last week, Oumaima Chaouay, who joined ISIS and was captured in Syria, was sentenced to a symbolic one day in prison. Despite the brief prison term handed out by the Montreal court, the case recognized for the first time that providing 'family support as a spouse' to a terrorist group was a criminal offence. Women have also been keenly involved in the post-pandemic far right. A third of those charged over the pro-Trump insurrection attempt at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, were women, it said. At the same time, the ratio of extremists who were women more than doubled from six per cent to 14 percent between 2018 and 2021, the intelligence report said, citing data from the University of Maryland. With an estimated 6,600 Canadian alt-right platforms on the internet, with some 50,000 users, 'it is likely that women are just as present as men on extremist social media platforms,' the report said. But the intelligence report said most analysis on the topic was focused on men and the role of women as radicalizers of others had not been as widely explored, raising questions about gaps in Canadian policy. Story continues below advertisement 'In the online extremist milieu, female social media influencers are active participants in radicalizing others,' ITAC wrote. 'Canada-based extremist influencers will continue to play an important role in the North American extremist milieu.' Mommy blogs and tradwives View image in full screen Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen is pictured after telling British lawmakers the social media giant stokes online hate and extremism, and fails to protect children from harmful content. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham). To lure vulnerable recruits into their causes, extremist influencers have been packaging their messaging within content that appeals to women's interests, according to the intelligence report. Story continues below advertisement Among them are so-called 'mommy blogs' that discuss parenting and motherhood issues, but that became platforms for disinformation and conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 lockdowns. 'Certain bloggers promote xenophobic and anti-2SLGBTOI+ rhetoric under the guise of expressing concern for children's well-being,' it said. 'Grievances related to sexual education in schools or vaccinations led to discussions that began with skepticism and concern and spiralled into anti-government extremism.' Blogs about 'tradwives' — women who promote traditional values — also thrived during the pandemic, but some have devolved into the targeting of immigrants, according to ITAC. 'Discourse about respecting women's contributions at home often strays into anti-immigration rhetoric. Feminism is blamed for overburdening women with work outside the home and multiracial immigration is cited as the reason for white men struggling to find employment.' Not all such influencers have large followings, but the report said that as of February 2023, tradwife content had attracted more than 100-million views on the social media platform TikTok. Leidig, a researcher who specializes in anti-democratic politics and online extremism, agreed that female influencers were strategically using mainstream social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to 'normalize and legitimize extremist ideas about gender, immigration, and race.' 'They co-opt lifestyle content such as health and wellness, food blogging, beauty, and motherhood to embed political messages while at the same time appealing to broad audiences,' she said. Story continues below advertisement 'Importantly, these influencers successfully exploit the visibility and algorithmic amplification of these platforms with the reach of their content, which often passes as apolitical or unproblematic unless you can detect the coded language being used as a radicalization strategy.'
Hamilton Spectator
18-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Indigenous tourism feels the pinch from decline in US visitors and funding cuts
Dean Werk was supposed to be gearing up for a busy summer on the Fraser River in British Columbia. Instead, the Métis owner of Great River Fishing Adventures is watching his calendar empty out as American clients, once the lifeblood of his business, cancel trips one after another. Earlier this year, Werk's company — known for helping clients catch and release some of the biggest sturgeon on the river — lost a US group worth $85,000. 'We worked for two years to put this package together for them. And that booking got cancelled,' Werk said. Soon after, a $65,000 booking was also lost. Werk is concerned this is just the beginning and the sector could face a situation similar to the pandemic, when Indigenous tourism saw international travel collapse and struggled for years to partially recover. Across Canada, Indigenous businesses are reporting a significant drop in tourism from the United States. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) projected US bookings will fall nearly 70 per cent compared to last year, with advanced bookings for flights between Canada and the US expected to remain down by more than 70 per cent each month through September. Operators point to tariffs, geopolitical tensions and shifting travel advisories as key factors. Robert French, who manages Big Land Fishing Lodge in Newfoundland and Labrador, has seen similar declines and described the trend as reciprocal. 'Canadians going to the US have decided to stay at home. And I think this is vice versa. A lot of US people are trying to start to stay home and travel within their own country,' French said. For many Indigenous operators, the loss of American visitors is devastating. US travelers have historically accounted for the bulk of bookings, with international guests spending more and staying longer than domestic tourists. Werk said Indigenous tour operators often depend on the US market for as much as 60 to 80 per cent of their clientele. According to government documents, Indigenous tourism in Canada has still not recovered after the pandemic. The businesses generated $4 billion in 2019, but by 2023, that number had dropped to $3.7 billion — and the real value is even lower when adjusted for inflation. Now, as the industry hoped for a full rebound, operators are facing a new wave of challenges with even fewer safety nets. A central concern for the sector is the steep drop in federal funding . In Budget 2024, Ottawa invested $2.5 million for ITAC (which is not part of the government). That's less than 10 per cent of the $33 million the organization requested for operations, marketing and development as part of a 2030 strategy to make Canada a world leader in Indigenous tourism. The funding cuts forced ITAC to lay off about half its staff and halt support for smaller provincial organizations, putting their futures in jeopardy. Keith Henry, CEO and president of ITAC, said the reductions risk setting the industry back a decade and damaging its reputation among major tourism buyers and sellers. This year, federal support has fallen even further. For 2025-2026, Indigenous Services Canada funding is down to $1.25 million, Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada has dropped to zero and Destination Canada's contribution is now $1.9 million. The total reduction amounts to $4.55 million, representing about a 68 per cent cut to ITAC in a single year. Henry said the sector is being told by the federal government that tourism is 'poised to do great in 2025,' but that message does not reflect the reality for Indigenous operators on the ground. The operators are also seeing a decline in tourists from other international origins beyond the US as a result of tensions between Canada and the US, and conflicts elsewhere. Henry said the situation is a serious setback for Indigenous-led tourism across the country. 'We've seen a continued decline of federal government support for Indigenous tourism. It feels like Canada has lost any true vision or interest to invest and believe in Indigenous-led tourism, despite public words,' Henry said. Indigenous Services Canada has yet to respond to Canada's National Observer's request for comment and further information. Meanwhile, international arrivals are dropping sharply . In March 2025, trips to Canada by US residents fell 6.6 per cent year over year, while arrivals from overseas residents plunged 17.4 per cent. The numbers are continuing to decline as trade tensions persist. In response to the decline in international tourists, ITAC has ramped up domestic marketing efforts, launching the 'Original Original' campaign to encourage Canadians to explore Indigenous tourism in their own backyard. The association has increased its presence through advertising, television commercials and bus wraps in major cities, such as Edmonton, Toronto, Winnipeg, Halifax and Vancouver as well as the North. Henry said the efforts are crucial for raising awareness among Canadian travelers, but domestic tourism cannot make up for the loss of international visitors, especially Americans. 'Domestic travellers spend less and don't stay as long. International customers spend six to eight hundred dollars per person, versus a Canadian who spends maybe one to two hundred. The math doesn't make sense if we lose those international guests,' Henry said. While operators struggle with lost bookings and shrinking federal support, many are now contending with a new set of pressures making recovery even harder. In Churchill, Manitoba, David Daley is facing a 'triple hit.' Daley, a Métis long-distance dogsled racer who runs Wapusk Adventures, said wildfires have forced evacuations across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, creating confusion for tourists and immediate ripple effects for local businesses, as the province urges people to avoid 'unnecessary travel' to the region. 'We're open for business, but then the province is saying we're closed for business. It's a mixed message that the tourists are getting,' Daley said. 'That's not very good news for the tourism industry.' He said there is no emergency fund to support operators through disasters like wildfires, leaving many exposed to sudden losses. On top of this, costs are spiraling. Daley said since the pandemic, insurance premiums for his hotel have soared, adding yet another burden to an already fragile sector. He has also diversified his offerings beyond dog sledding to e-bike rentals, a storefront, a hotel and Aurora viewing, but can't fully offset the uncertainty and financial strain facing the business. 'How many rooms do you have to rent to just pay your insurance? Never mind your loans to own up a piece of property like that?' he said. Indigenous tourism business operators have also reported rising costs for fuel, food, and equipment. Werk said uncertainty is weighing heavily on everyone in the industry and the federal government needs to recognize the scale of the crisis and act decisively. 'It's not just one year. It's cumulative over potentially the next three or four years until we get this all straightened out,' he said. 'If things don't change, I'm not sure how much longer we can keep going.' Sonal Gupta / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
National Observer
17-06-2025
- Business
- National Observer
Indigenous businesses feel the pinch from decline in US tourists and federal funding cuts
Dean Werk was supposed to be gearing up for a busy summer on the Fraser River in British Columbia. Instead, the Métis owner of Great River Fishing Adventures is watching his calendar empty out as American clients, once the lifeblood of his business, cancel trips one after another. Earlier this year, Werk's company — known for helping clients catch and release some of the biggest sturgeon on the river — lost a US group worth $85,000. 'We worked for two years to put this package together for them. And that booking got cancelled,' Werk said. Soon after, a $65,000 booking was also lost. Werk is concerned this is just the beginning and the sector could face a situation similar to the pandemic, when Indigenous tourism saw international travel collapse and struggled for years to partially recover. Across Canada, Indigenous businesses are reporting a significant drop in tourism from the United States. The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) projected US bookings will fall nearly 70 per cent compared to last year, with advanced bookings for flights between Canada and the US expected to remain down by more than 70 per cent each month through September. Operators point to tariffs, geopolitical tensions and shifting travel advisories as key factors. "It feels like Canada has lost any true vision or interest to invest and believe in Indigenous-led tourism, despite public words,' Keith Henry, CEO and president of ITAC. Robert French, who manages Big Land Fishing Lodge in Newfoundland and Labrador, has seen similar declines and described the trend as reciprocal. 'Canadians going to the US have decided to stay at home. And I think this is vice versa. A lot of US people are trying to start to stay home and travel within their own country,' French said. For many Indigenous operators, the loss of American visitors is devastating. US travelers have historically accounted for the bulk of bookings, with international guests spending more and staying longer than domestic tourists. Werk said Indigenous tour operators often depend on the US market for as much as 60 to 80 per cent of their clientele. According to government documents, Indigenous tourism in Canada has still not recovered after the pandemic. The businesses generated $4 billion in 2019, but by 2023, that number had dropped to $3.7 billion — and the real value is even lower when adjusted for inflation. Now, as the industry hoped for a full rebound, operators are facing a new wave of challenges with even fewer safety nets. Federal support plummets A central concern for the sector is the steep drop in federal funding. In Budget 2024, Ottawa invested $2.5 million for ITAC (which is not part of the government). That's less than 10 per cent of the $33 million the organization requested for operations, marketing and development as part of a 2030 strategy to make Canada a world leader in Indigenous tourism. The funding cuts forced ITAC to lay off about half its staff and halt support for smaller provincial organizations, putting their futures in jeopardy. Keith Henry, CEO and president of ITAC, said the reductions risk setting the industry back a decade and damaging its reputation among major tourism buyers and sellers. This year, federal support has fallen even further. For 2025-2026, Indigenous Services Canada funding is down to $1.25 million, Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada has dropped to zero and Destination Canada's contribution is now $1.9 million. The total reduction amounts to $4.55 million, representing about a 68 per cent cut to ITAC in a single year. Henry said the sector is being told by the federal government that tourism is 'poised to do great in 2025,' but that message does not reflect the reality for Indigenous operators on the ground. The operators are also seeing a decline in tourists from other international origins beyond the US as a result of tensions between Canada and the US, and conflicts elsewhere. Henry said the situation is a serious setback for Indigenous-led tourism across the country. 'We've seen a continued decline of federal government support for Indigenous tourism. It feels like Canada has lost any true vision or interest to invest and believe in Indigenous-led tourism, despite public words,' Henry said. Indigenous Services Canada has yet to respond to Canada's National Observer's request for comment and further information. Domestic marketing Meanwhile, international arrivals are dropping sharply. In March 2025, trips to Canada by US residents fell 6.6 per cent year over year, while arrivals from overseas residents plunged 17.4 per cent. The numbers are continuing to decline as trade tensions persist. In response to the decline in international tourists, ITAC has ramped up domestic marketing efforts, launching the 'Original Original' campaign to encourage Canadians to explore Indigenous tourism in their own backyard. The association has increased its presence through advertising, television commercials and bus wraps in major cities, such as Edmonton, Toronto, Winnipeg, Halifax and Vancouver as well as the North. Henry said the efforts are crucial for raising awareness among Canadian travelers, but domestic tourism cannot make up for the loss of international visitors, especially Americans. 'Domestic travellers spend less and don't stay as long. International customers spend six to eight hundred dollars per person, versus a Canadian who spends maybe one to two hundred. The math doesn't make sense if we lose those international guests,' Henry said. Additional pressures mount While operators struggle with lost bookings and shrinking federal support, many are now contending with a new set of pressures making recovery even harder. In Churchill, Manitoba, David Daley is facing a 'triple hit.' Daley, a Métis long-distance dogsled racer who runs Wapusk Adventures, said wildfires have forced evacuations across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, creating confusion for tourists and immediate ripple effects for local businesses, as the province urges people to avoid 'unnecessary travel' to the region. 'We're open for business, but then the province is saying we're closed for business. It's a mixed message that the tourists are getting,' Daley said. 'That's not very good news for the tourism industry.' He said there is no emergency fund to support operators through disasters like wildfires, leaving many exposed to sudden losses. On top of this, costs are spiraling. Daley said since the pandemic, insurance premiums for his hotel have soared, adding yet another burden to an already fragile sector. He has also diversified his offerings beyond dog sledding to e-bike rentals, a storefront, a hotel and Aurora viewing, but can't fully offset the uncertainty and financial strain facing the business. 'How many rooms do you have to rent to just pay your insurance? Never mind your loans to own up a piece of property like that?' he said. Indigenous tourism business operators have also reported rising costs for fuel, food, and equipment. Werk said uncertainty is weighing heavily on everyone in the industry and the federal government needs to recognize the scale of the crisis and act decisively. 'It's not just one year. It's cumulative over potentially the next three or four years until we get this all straightened out,' he said. 'If things don't change, I'm not sure how much longer we can keep going.'
Bloomberg
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
South Africa Seeks 15% Tax on EV-Battery Imports, BD Reports
South Africa's trade-control agency proposed a 15% import tax on new energy vehicle batteries to boost local capacity and encourage original equipment manufacturers to build units in the country, Business Day reported. The International Trade Administration Commission also proposed that the trade minister raises the number of materials that qualify as standard under the government's Automotive Production Development Programme to support local battery manufacturing, the Johannesburg newspaper, citing ITAC Chief Commissioner Ayabonga Cawe.
