South Africa to pitch “generous” trade deal to US to dodge 30% tariffs
Job losses on the line
South Africa is set to offer the United States a “generous and ambitious” new trade deal on Tuesday in a bid to stop 30% tariffs from hitting its exports.
Washington introduced the tariffs on Friday—its highest in sub-Saharan Africa—despite months of talks aimed at avoiding what officials say could cost around 30,000 jobs.
What’s on the table
While full details aren’t out yet, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen confirmed that agreements to boost US imports of poultry, blueberries, and pork are locked in.
“Our goal is to show that South African exports don’t threaten US industries—that we actually complement each other,” Trade Minister Parks Tau said.
A small player in US trade
The US is South Africa’s third-biggest trading partner after the EU and China, but South African goods make up just 0.25% of total US imports—hardly a threat, according to Tau.
Politics in the mix
Steenhuisen said US diplomats unexpectedly brought up South Africa’s domestic laws, like land reform and race-based employment policies—issues President Donald Trump has criticised before.
“This feels like a new era where tariffs are being used to push agendas outside normal trade concerns,” Steenhuisen told reporters.
Not just SA feeling the heat
Other countries, including Brazil and India, have faced even steeper tariffs from the Trump administration over political disagreements. Tau called the US talks “unprecedented” for not following WTO rules but stressed that South Africa must still protect its sovereignty.
