South Africa's trade minister highlights 'impasse' in negotiations with the US over tariffs
South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to finalising a trade deal with the United States, despite ongoing geopolitical, domestic, and trade challenges.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), Minister Parks Tau stressed that a "reset is unavoidable" in the trade relationship between the two nations.
In the statement, the government stated its decision.
"South Africa took the decision not to retaliate to the reciprocal tariffs announced by the United States. We also want to reiterate that we have no intention of decoupling from the United States either."
Additionally, the South African government said it views negotiations as the most effective tool to address the issues.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Ramakgopa on tariffs and BEE, Aarto commencement date, Mbeki, Appollis and more
Here's your daily news update for Saturday, 2 August 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. In the news today, Minster of Electricity Kgosientsho Ramakgopa denied suggestions that the United States' 30% tariffs on South African trade was a result of the country's broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) policy. National government gazetted the commencement dates of the Aarto demerit system in a staggered implementation of the Aarto Act, as the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the Construction Education Training Authority (Ceta) engaged in a war of words over alleged corruption. Orlando Pirates' new signing Oswin Appollis made an impressive debut for the Buccaneers in the MTN8, while SA's hottest artists are reflecting on a glitzy evening at the Basadi in Music Vanguard Awards. Weather forecast According to the South African Weather Service (SAWS), rain and showers are also likely in the south-western parts of the country heading into Monday. Otherwise, partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions are expected in other parts of the country, it said. SAWS also said a cold front will hit the Western Cape on Monday, along with rainfall. It expects the cold front and rainfall to move to the Eastern Cape on Tuesday. Stay up to date with The Citizen — More News, Your Way. Ramakgopa dismisses claims US tariffs target BEE policy, but admits it needs tweaking From August, South Africa will be lumped with a 30% tariff on goods traded with the United States after President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration failed to negotiate a deal with their American counterparts. Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa during a ANC media briefing on 2 August 2025. Picture: X / @MYANC Ramakgopa said the tariffs had 'huge economic implications' as they threatened jobs but said the situation was forcing the country to look for more agreeable trading partners elsewhere. Read more: Ramakgopa dismisses claims US tariffs target BEE policy, but admits it needs tweaking Extortion suspect killed in shootout with Eastern Cape police Police investigating an alleged extortion ring in rural Eastern Cape were in a gunfight with a suspect on Saturday afternoon. Picture: Saps The suspect was travelling with a passenger who left the scene unharmed, but in custody to undergo further interrogation. Read more: Extortion suspect killed in shootout with Eastern Cape police Khampepe Commission is the right platform for Mbeki, Mabandla to tell their story, court rules Former president Thabo Mbeki and ex-justice minister Brigitte Mabandla lost a court battle to intervene in a damages case related to the failure to prosecute apartheid-era crimes. Former president Thabo Mbeki. Picture: Gallo Images The case related to claims that between 1998 to 2017, the government actively blocked investigations into Truth and Reconciliation Commission-referred matters. Read more: Khampepe Commission is the right platform for Mbeki, Mabandla to tell their story, court rules Haven't filed your tax return yet? Here's how to avoid mistakes It is tax season again, which means it is time for taxpayers to stress pleasing the bean counters at the South African Revenue Service. Picture: iStock Here is some expert advice from top professionals in South Africa's investment and finance industry. Read more: Haven't filed your tax return yet? Here's how to avoid mistakes Union expects 'mass exodus' of pilots as 12-day Flysafair strike ends FlySafair confirmed on Friday that its management had signed a formal agreement with the trade union Solidarity to end the pilot's strike. Fkysafair Boeing 737-844 with green and gold in support of the Springboks. Picture: Gallo Images/Jaco Marais However, Solidarity spokesperson Helgard Cronjé believed the mediation process came at a high cost and could have been resolved earlier. Read more: Union expects 'mass exodus' of pilots as 12-day Flysafair strike ends Government announces when Aarto demerit system will start Clauses relating to the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) demerit system will come into effect next year. Picture: Nigel Sibanda. Implementation of the act will be done in phases, beginning in December for some municipalities. Read more: Government announces when Aarto demerit system will start 'The public deserves better': Outa and Ceta trade barbs after protest Outa protested outside the Ceta offices earlier this week, with the two organisations trading heated words over allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Outa protested outside the Ceta head office in Midrand on Thursday. Picture: X/@OUTASA Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage is wanting an audience with newly appointed Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela to discusses the authority's effectiveness. Read more: 'The public deserves better': Outa and Ceta trade barbs after protest Appollis helps Pirates make perfect start to MTN8 title defence Buccaneers debutant Oswin Appollis was on the scoresheet as his new employers registered a win in the MTN8 quarterfinals. Oswin Appollis and Patrick Maswanganyi celebrate a goal during the 2025/26 MTN8 quaterfinal match between Orlando Pirates and Polokwane City at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix The win gave new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou the perfect start, who was thrilled with the domestic season-opening victory. Read more: Appollis helps Pirates make perfect start to MTN8 title defence Laconco, Lootlove and Relebogile Mabotja among big winners at Basadi in Music Vanguard Awards The Vanguard Awards recognise women in often-overlooked roles – from managers and producers to stylists and other creatives who drive the industry's success stories. TV personality Luthando 'Lootlove' Shosha won entertainment radio presenter of the year. Picture: Nigel Sibanda The evening also saw special honours awarded to two trailblazing women. Read more: Laconco, Lootlove and Relebogile Mabotja among big winners at Basadi in Music Vanguard Awards
eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
Cosatu: Tariffs will lead to a jobs bloodbath
CITRUSDAL, Western Cape - Citrus farmers in the Western Cape are worried. They say the 30-percent tariffs the US imposed on South African exports will devastate the sector and job losses are inevitable. Cosatu says it is extremely concerned by the impact of the 30% tariff announced by the United States on all South African exports bar minerals, to the world's largest economy. The trade union federation says it fears the devastation this will wreak upon farm workers in the citrus industry from the Western Cape to Limpopo, to motor manufacturing workers from the Eastern Cape to Gauteng.
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Government announces when Aarto demerit system will start
The national implementation of the Aarto Act has been confirmed with government rolling out regulations in phases Clauses relating to the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) demerit system will come into effect next year. In a bulk gazette that contained 16 notices and proclamations, national government on Friday declared the commencement dates for certain sections of the Aarto Act and its subsequent amendment. Implementation of the act will be done in phases, beginning in December for some municipalities. The Aarto Act was passed in 1998, with the amendment containing the demerit system signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2019. Friday's gazette stated that the whole of the 1998 Act, with the exception of Section 29(g), will come into effect for 69 municipalities in 1 December. Sections 17 to 20, section 23 and sections 29 to 35 of the 2019 amendment will also come into effect for those 69 municipalities on 1 December. These municipalities include Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Mangaung, eThekwini and Cape Town. Five months later, 144 municipalities receive the same stipulations on 1 April 2026. These include the Knysna, Drakenstein, Bela-Bela, Umvoti and 140 other local municipalities. Section 24, which covers the demerit system, as well as sections 25 to 28 will come in effect for all municipalities from 1 September 2026. Constitutional court case The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) challenged the amendments and took the matter all the way to Constitutional Court. The civil society group asserted that the amendments did not adequately deal with road traffic safety and that it hampered municipalities' ability to regulate their own affairs. 'Outa is of the opinion that the Aarto practical challenges are largely due to poor enforcement, a lack of administrative discipline when it comes to traffic infringement management, and a variety of problems in the management of vehicle and driver licencing,' the organisation stated at the time. In July 2023, the court ruled against Outa, with then Chief Justice Raymond Zondo's judgment declaring that the amendments were constitutional. Employee implications Section 17 of the Act deals with the responsibilities of those who employ drivers. 'Aarto will make employers potentially face administrative and financial burdens for their employees' non-compliance where their driving falls within the employees' key duties and responsibilities,' Weber Wentzel advised previously. The Act requires a company to appoint a proxy to represent company vehicles but the firm state that the proxy will not accumulate demerit points on the drivers' behalf. 'However, the proxy must ensure that the demerit points are allocated to the correct driver.' 'Should the proxy not do so, the employer will be liable to pay the fine at three times the value applicable to ordinary license holders,' WeberWentzel stated. NOW READ: Aarto implementation could result in municipal traffic services 'shutting down'
