In a major international development, former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping 30% tariff on all goods imported from South Africa, set to begin on August 1. In a letter, Trump claimed South Africa's trade policies are "far from reciprocal," prompting this drastic measure. The White House has indicated that these tariffs could be adjusted based on the future of US-Pretoria relations.
Responding swiftly, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has sharply pushed back, labelling the tariff a "contested interpretation" of the current trade reality. In a statement from his office, Ramaphosa highlighted that South Africa's average tariff on imports is a modest 7.6%, and a staggering 77% of all U.S. goods enter the country completely duty-free. He has tasked a special team to urgently engage with U.S. officials on the matter.
High-stakes negotiations are already underway. U.S. and South African officials have met in Angola to discuss tariff relief and market access. South Africa's trade ministry is pushing to delay the deadline and negotiate a new framework, with sources indicating they are seeking to cap the duty rate at 10% as a potential compromise. The international community is watching closely as a Press Secretary Leavitt has hinted at a possible delay, leaving the future of US-South Africa trade hanging in the balance.
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