TARIFF-HAPPY US DOUBLE DOWN ON FARM ATTACKS
The meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office in May. The US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor (DRL) says attacks on farms display a distinctly brutal pattern.
Image: AFP
THE USA is houing dik on claims of farm attacks targeting white South Africans as the SA government and economy reels from President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The US has insisted on its claim that white farmers are being targeted in South Africa with the US State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor (DRL) saying the farm attacks in the country are not ordinary crimes.
The DRL said it has visited the country recently to learn more about the rural farm attacks and the breakdown of the rule of law. The bureau said the trip to South Africa was in support of the President of the United States' executive orders.
US President Donald Trump took aim at South Africa earlier this year after he took office for the second term, promoting claims that white farmers were targeted-he stopped all aid to South Africa, accusing it of discriminating against its white minority.
The South African government and President Cyril Ramaphosa have labelled claims of a white genocide as false and said while there was crime in South Africa, the majority of victims were Black.
Trump also imposed a 30 percent tariff wall on SA exports, while other African nations, including Nigeria, Ghana, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have been hit with 15 percent, which is expected to come into effect in days.
Ramaphosa has conceded that the nation is grappling with the US’s decision to raise tariffs, but insists the country is not alone in facing mounting global trade challenges.
Minister for International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) Ronald Lamola yesterday explained that this unilateral tariff decision comes as both countries engage in discussions designed to resolve long-standing bilateral issues aiming to foster predictability in trade.
He said South Africa submitted a comprehensive Framework Deal in May 2025 which proposed ways to address the US trade deficit, promote digital trade, enhance investment opportunities, and eliminate non-tariff barriers.
Lamola said: "Nevertheless, these efforts seem to have been undermined, much to the dismay of the South African government, which views them as detrimental to the intended reset of relations with the US.”