Tau says SA may make last-minute bid, Lamola in US to smooth relations
During a radio interview with 702, Tau confirmed that the head of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) Robert Lamola has been in Washington this week to engage with the US on their other objections against SA. This includes 'geopolitical' matters.
Earlier this week, Zane Dangor, director-general of Dirco, confirmed that the US has included their concerns about black economic empowerment (BEE) in trade negotiations.
From Friday, South African exporters of many products to the US will face import tariffs of 30% (from 10%) in the absence of a new agreement. Only 22 countries have certainty about their new tariffs from 1 August.
'We actually spoke to the US last night, both at the level of the embassy and also at the level of the US Trade Representative. And they indicated that even they are unable to confirm what the announcement [on South Africa's tariffs] would be - and they would encourage us to resubmit our proposal, possibly an enhanced proposal to the United States government, it would be processed by the White House.'
The US rejected South Africa's first offer in May. This was followed by a sweetened offer in June. Since then, there has been very little feedback from the Americans.
Tau said that the South Africans are now 'having to navigate a last-minute proposal that's enhanced from the proposal that we had initially given'.
One of the issues that was discussed with the US on Wednesday night was related to US pork imports. SA has longstanding restrictions on imports of pork from the US, due to the prevalence of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome in that country.
On the issue of BEE and other non-trade demands, Tau said that Minister Lamola has been in Washington this week to engage on these 'geopolitical matters.' He said:
My opinion is that we have pulled out all stops, including sending delegations from ministries, including sending officials into the US government. We've engaged through business, through civil society. Our colleagues in Cosatu were there in the past week. There have been various business delegations. So, from all angles we have continued to engage with the US.
In the worst-case scenario, government is working on a package of support mechanisms for companies affected by the surge in US import tariffs.
The Department of Trade Industry and Competition said this week that the response package would include 'demand-side interventions' for impacted industries. This might include potential tax incentives or opening up new markets, Business Day reported.
Tau said a lot of work has been done to find out which companies will be affected.
He said some industries might still be able to sell to the US market at much higher tariffs,
'But there are industries or companies that simply would not be able to access the market, then we might have to bring in a tariff support mechanism.'
His department has established an export support desk that will be launched on Friday.
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