Ramaphosa says South Africa aiming to avert U.S. tariffs through ongoing negotiations
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that negotiations are ongoing with the United States to avoid punitive tariffs on key exports, including vehicles, steel, aluminium, and citrus products.
Speaking to reporters, Ramaphosa acknowledged the pressure facing South Africa amid Washington’s proposed trade restrictions but emphasised that the country is not alone in dealing with such challenges.
“Our negotiations with the United States are continuing,” Ramaphosa said. “Let’s be clear, South Africa is not the only country that is dealing with this crisis, and many others are in a much worse situation than we are.”
The U.S. tariff proposals have raised concerns among South African industries that depend heavily on American markets. Ramaphosa noted the economic stakes.
“We’ve got to respond to the United States tariff proposals. Many of our companies deal with United States customers,” he said. “We export vehicles, we export steel and aluminium, we export citrus. So we’ve got to engage with them and find a way to reach a settlement.”
He added that there was still time to resolve the issue through dialogue. “Within the window that’s still open, we’re hoping that we will find a way to settle this matter. So intensive negotiations are now underway.”
Asked whether the U.S. was approaching the talks rationally, Ramaphosa offered a diplomatic response noting that, “It’s not for me to comment on whether we’re dealing with people who are rational or not. We deal with every government with the required respect and dignity, and we expect that respect to be reciprocated.”
Ramaphosa also acknowledged South Africa’s position on the continent as a major exporter, saying, “We are the largest and most industrialised economy in Africa. Obviously, we will be a target because we export more than many other countries. So our task is to negotiate, strongly and as hard as we can, with the United States.”
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
