President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday that South Africa is using the one-week delay in the United States’ planned 30-percent tariffs to negotiate aggressively in order to safeguard jobs and minimise the economic impact.
South Africa is among nearly 70 countries targeted by the new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, originally set to take effect on Friday but now postponed until August 7.
Speaking to journalists, Ramaphosa emphasised the urgency of the talks, describing the discussions as “intensive” and aimed at avoiding heavy losses to South Africa’s economy.
“Within the window that’s still open, we’re hoping that we will find a way to settle this matter,” Ramaphosa said. “Our task is to negotiate as strongly and as hard as we can with the United States. Our objective, really, is to save jobs.”
The United States is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China, and the new tariffs are expected to disproportionately impact key sectors, particularly agriculture and automotive manufacturing. South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago has warned that the tariffs could cost the economy as many as 100,000 jobs, further straining a national unemployment rate already above 30 percent.
While negotiating with Washington, Pretoria is also seeking to diversify its export markets. “It is too risky just to focus on one,” Ramaphosa noted.
As part of its proposal to the US, South Africa has offered to increase imports of American liquefied natural gas and select agricultural products. In addition, South African companies have pledged investment in US mining and metals-recycling industries and expressed interest in joint ventures in critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural machinery.
The government hopes these offers, coupled with ongoing dialogue, will help avoid the full impact of the tariffs before the August deadline.
