PREZ GETS TRUMPED

DESPITE President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit to the White House, South Africa has been slapped with another 30 percent trade tariff by US counterpart Donald Trump. 

On Monday night, Trump announced the unilateral move, affecting “any and all South African products sent into the United States”. 

In a blow to SA’s economic and business interests, Trump added that the blanket tariffs will be imposed outside of any sectoral trade deals. 

The former Apprentice star said the move was “necessary to correct the many years of South Africa’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers,” blaming Pretoria for what he called “unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States.” 

With Ramaphosa in Brazil for the BRICS leader summit, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said they will continue to negotiate with the US to have a more balanced trade relationship. 

Magwenya said in a statement: “This 30 percent tariff is based on a particular interpretation of the balance of trade between South Africa and the United States. 

“This contested interpretation forms part of the issues under consideration by the negotiating teams from South Africa and the United States.

“Accordingly, South Africa maintains that the 30 percent reciprocal tariff is not an accurate representation of available trade data. In our interpretation of the available trade data, the average tariff imported goods entering South Africa stands at 7.6 percent.

“Importantly, 56 percent of goods enter South Africa at 0 percent most favoured nation tariff, with 77 percent of US goods entering the South African market under the 0 percent duty.”

Pretoria made it clear that South Africa continues with efforts to nurture closer trade relations with the United States.

Magwenya added: “South Africa will continue with its diplomatic efforts towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship with the United States. 

“We welcome the commitment by the US government, that the 30 percent tariff is subject to modification at the back of the conclusion of our negotiations with the United States.”

SA has continued to engage the US, most recently at a meeting held on the sidelines of the US-Africa Summit on 23 June 2025 in Luanda, the capital of Angola.

But Magwenya says that the US is yet to give any details. 

He said: “It was at this meeting where South Africa learned of a template with which the US wishes to engage sub-Saharan Africa on matters of trade. 

“The South African negotiating team still awaits this template, however, President Ramaphosa has instructed the team to urgently engage with the US on the basis of the Framework Deal that South Africa submitted to the US on 20 May 2025.”