President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the Trump administration’s newly announced 30% tariff on South African imports, describing it as a one-sided and unjustified action that misrepresents trade realities.
The White House revealed on Monday that 14 countries, including South Africa—the only sub-Saharan African nation affected—will face increased tariffs, despite a broader delay on some previously announced levies.
In response, the South African presidency issued a statement rejecting the justification for the tariffs. “The claim of a 30% reciprocal tariff is inconsistent with actual trade data,” the statement said.
“On average, tariffs on goods entering South Africa stand at 7.6%, while 56% of imports are duty-free. Notably, 77% of U.S. goods enter the country at a 0% tariff.”
South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing diplomatic channels to achieve fairer trade terms and encouraged domestic businesses to expand into new markets to reduce reliance on U.S. trade.
Tensions between Pretoria and Washington have escalated since Trump’s return to office, with a recent meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump in May failing to ease growing diplomatic friction.
