Less than 24 hours before US tariffs on SA are implemented

JOHANNESBURG - South African exporters are less than 24 hours from having to face painful tariffs on their products into the United States (US) as the 1 August deadline draws closer.

Despite around-the-clock trade negotiations with a number of countries, US President Donald Trump appears to be unwilling to water down or put on ice harsh tariffs on all trading partners.

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Trump said South Africa is among more than 180 countries that have a high trade balance with the US.

South Africa is still waiting for feedback from the US on its trade offer as countries make their last-ditch attempts to soften the tariff blow.

This week, Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau gave a little more insight into the offer on the table, including a R60 billion investment pledge in the US mining and recycling sectors.

The deal – first tabled during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Washington in May – also carries the possibility of poultry and blueberry imports to SA from the US and a massive 10-year liquefied natural gas import deal.

On his Truth account, Trump reiterated, “the August first deadline is the August first deadline - it stands strong and will not be extended”.

ActionSA and the Democratic Alliance (DA) said in the absence of any communication to assure domestic markets, they’re only left to assume there is no plan for how the Government of National Unity (GNU) will mitigate any economic fallout from the planned tariffs.

“Similarly, South African businesses exporting to the US have zero clarity on the plans of the GNU,” said ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba.

“While the Democratic Alliance welcomes the decision not to retaliate against the 30% tariff threat, it is clear the offer on the table will not satisfy a US administration that is driving a hard bargain and will not win a deal that protects our exporters,” DA Member of Parliament (MP) Toby Chance added.