South Africa will not hit back at tariffs imposed by the United States and has instead proposed to facilitate US exports and offered deals in multiple sectors, its trade minister said Tuesday.
Pretoria has been trying to secure a trade deal before Washington’s threatened 30 percent tariff on the country comes into effect on August 1.
But the two nations were at an “impasse” caused by “the intersection of geopolitical, domestic and trade issues”, minister Parks Tau said in a statement.
“South Africa took the decision not to retaliate to the reciprocal tariffs announced by the United States,” he said, adding the government was still awaiting “substantive feedback from our US counterparts” on its proposals.
Pretoria had offered to import Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and facilitate market access for some US agricultural products, the statement said.
“South African firms committed to invest $3.3 billion in US industries such as mining and metals recycling, while both governments agreed to pursue joint investment in critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, and agri-machinery,” it said.
The US is South Africa’s second largest trading partner after China, exporting agricultural products, precious metals and vehicles.
The automobile and citrus sectors in particular stand to lose thousands of jobs.
US President Donald Trump’s tariffs have effectively nullified the AGOA preferential trade deal, under which certain goods from eligible African countries could enter the US levy-free.
“We have put our best foot forward,” Tau said, adding that a reset of the trade relationship between the two countries was “unavoidable”.
Via AFP По материалам: http://www.planet-today.com/2025/07/south-africa-at-impasse-in-bid-to.html