Ramaphosa-Trump meeting: FW de Klerk Foundation calls for trade focus

IOL News

20-05-2025

President Cyril Ramaphosa's meeting with Donald Trump takes place on Wednesday
Image: Se-Anne Rall
The FW de Klerk Foundation has welcomed the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump.
Ramaphosa arrived in Washington on Tuesday morning.
The meeting is expected to take place on Wednesday.
In an open letter, the Foundation said it had already advocated for a constructive dialogue between the Union Building and the White House.
'The Foundation believes that matters that benefit both South Africa and the United States should be focused on, rather than trivial domestic issues," the Foundation said.
"The spotlight should be particularly focused on trade and matters related to strategic geo-political cooperation.
"On the trade front, South Africa remains the US's largest trading partner in Africa. Trade between the two countries already amounts to more than $20 billion."
It said there are currently 600 US companies operating in South Africa, which employ approximately 200,000 people.
The US imports several important minerals from South Africa, including platinum, gold, chromium, manganese, and various other ores and slag. According to the Minerals Council, platinum group metals form a significant part of South Africa's exports to the US, as do iron and steel.
The Foundation said these exports amounted to approximately $10.94 million in 2024. The Trump administration exempted these minerals from its tariff hikes.
'On a geopolitical level, President Ramaphosa plays a highly strategic role behind the scenes. His ties with both Putin and Zelensky, as well as the fact that he has the ear of Iran and Hamas, put him in a unique position to work with the US to help bring peace to conflict-torn parts of the world.'
'He has already touched on these issues in an earlier telephone conversation with President Trump. In addition, let's not forget his good relationship with President Xi Jinping of China,' the Foundation said.
It also called on Ramaphosa to use these 'trump' cards to help promote world peace and help negotiate a fairer global trade regime.
'The world faces significant challenges. Poverty, underdevelopment, famine, crime, international drug cartels, and terrorist groups pose major risks to world peace and stability. Statesmanship and visionary leadership are needed to tackle these challenges together. This is what both South Africans and Americans expect from their political leaders,' it said.
The Foundation welcomed the clarification by cabinet members in the Government of National Unity (GNU) in terms of domestic policy issues, such as the Expropriation Act, and also disinformation campaigns related to genocide, persecution of Afrikaners, and confiscation of land from white farmers happening in South Africa.
'It is the responsibility of all cabinet members, especially those from opposition ranks such as the IFP, DA, FF-plus, and PA, to put South Africa's interests first. Their actions must be future-oriented, and the focus must be on strengthening a coalition of political moderates and pragmatists to take the country forward. A strong and united political front of moderates and pragmatists must be built to solve the many challenges we face,' it said.
'Animosity and squabbling over trivialities between GNU partners only provide ammunition to radical elements, which do not seek to promote South Africa's interests, but are rather hellbent on promoting their populist, unworkable, and divisive agendas,' the Foundation said.
The Foundation wished the GNU representatives, led by President Ramaphosa, all the best in Washington.
'The majority of the people of South Africa have placed their trust in the GNU. Do not let us down!'
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