Trump says he may skip G20 summit in SA, cites policy disapproval
Washington, under Trump and former president Joe Biden, has complained about the case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, where it accused Israel of genocide over its military assault in Gaza.
Israel's assault has killed tens of thousands, caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and also led to accusations of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denied the accusations and cast its Gaza offensive as self-defence after a deadly October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and in which more than 250 were taken hostage.
Diplomatic relations between the US and South Africa have also been strained under Trump due to the government's BEE policies to address the legacy of centuries of racial inequality.
Ramaphosa, who has urged Trump to attend the G20 summit, rejected Washington's claims that South Africa will use its land policy to arbitrarily confiscate white-owned land.
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Mail & Guardian
2 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Ramaphosa says talks with US on tariffs ongoing as measures are delayed for seven days
President Cyril @CyrilRamaphosa/X President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern over the 30% tariff imposed by the US on South African exports, despite a seven-day reprieve from implementation of the measure which had been set to kick in on Friday. South Africa is among several countries facing punitive tariffs from the US as it moves to protect its own manufacturers and labour force. On Friday, Ramaphosa said his government was finalising a package to support companies that are vulnerable to the reciprocal tariffs, adding that the details would be announced 'in due course'. He said Pretoria had submitted a framework deal to Washington in an effort to strengthen 'mutually beneficial trade and investment ties'. 'South Africa and US trade relations are complementary in nature and South African exports do not pose a threat to US industry. Importantly, SA exports to the US contain inputs from the African continent and contribute to intra-Africa trade,' he said. Ramaphosa said his government would pursue all diplomatic avenues to safeguard the country's national interests. 'It is important that, as a country, we keep our people at work and our companies producing some of the high-quality products destined for many parts of the world.' Trump's administration claims that a lack of reciprocity in trade relations has eroded the US's manufacturing base, disrupted supply chains and weakened its defence industrial base. Earlier this week, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said South Africa It has set up an export support desk as part of a diversification strategy 'to create resilience' in the economy. The desk is collaborating with export councils, industry associations and major exporters to the US to assist in accessing alternative markets. 'We also want to reiterate that we have no intention of decoupling from the United States either. Our view is that negotiations remain the best tool to deal with the issues that are on the table,' it said. Pretoria is still waiting for a response from Washington on its proposed framework deal, which includes substantial trade and investment incentives. These include the import of between 750 and Other elements include the import of US blueberries and a commitment by South Africa to invest $3.3 billion in US industries such as mining, metals recycling, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals and The deal includes exemptions from reciprocal tariffs in key sectors, including shipbuilding, counter-seasonal agriculture and exports by micro, small and medium enterprises with annual exports of less than $1 million. The trade department said it had been in 'intense negotiations' with the US and had signed a condition precedent document, with inputs ready for inclusion in a template expected from Washington. 'Despite the challenges that have been presented by this period, we have put our best foot forward, bringing together the subject specialists within our ranks that have dug deep to ensure that our country is adequately prepared for a number of potential scenarios,' it said.
Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Ramaphosa announces urgent measures to shield South African firms from Trump's tariff fallout
This comes after the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition launched an export support desk on Thursday night as one of its 'urgent interventions' to support South African exporters affected by the tariffs. South Africa is preparing a package to support companies that are vulnerable to the US tariffs, after it failed to secure a trade deal with Washington before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump. 'All channels of communication remain open to engage with the US, and our negotiators are ready pending invitation from the US,' President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement on Friday morning. 'In the meantime, government is finalising a package to support companies that are vulnerable to the reciprocal tariffs. The package consists of a number of measures to assist companies, producers and workers affected by the tariffs on SA exports to the US. The details of the measures will be announced in due course,' said Ramaphosa. This comes after the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition launched an export support desk on Thursday night as one of its 'urgent interventions' to support South African exporters affected by the tariffs. On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order placing new tariff rates on dozens of countries, hours before the 1 August 2025 deadline he had set for deals to be made. Some countries received modified tariff rates, while South Africa's remained at the 30% previously proposed by the US. (Source: The Outlier) According to the executive order, the higher import duty rates will take effect seven days from the date of the order. 'All applicable exceptions published in the previous US executive order are set to remain in force, and these exceptions covered products such as copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber articles, certain critical minerals, stainless steel scrap and energy products,' said Ramaphosa. South African officials have been working frantically for months to secure a trade deal with the US to avert Trump's punishing tariffs. South Africa proffered a proposed framework deal to US trade representatives in Washington in May, before Ramaphosa and Trump met at the White House. Representatives were later told they needed to revise this proposal, in accordance with the Trump administration's new template for US trade with sub-Saharan Africa, which they were told would be shared ' soon '. Earlier this week, it appeared the country was still waiting for this template. In his statement, Ramaphosa said the department was in 'constant contact' with the US on its framework deal. He said trade relations between SA and the US were 'complementary in nature' and that South African exports 'do not pose a threat' to US industry. 'South Africa will continue to pursue all diplomatic efforts to safeguard its national interests. It is important that as a country we keep our people at work and our companies producing some of the high-quality products destined for many parts of the world. 'To this end, government will intensify its diversification strategy to create resilience of our economy, and is working with export councils and industry associations, as well as top exporters to the US with a view to assist with alternative markets,' he said. Call to renew 'intensive negotiations' Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, the CEO of the Citrus Growers Association, told Daily Maverick the 30% tariff 'will be felt most acutely in rural communities in the Northern and Western Cape, the two provinces from which we export to the US'. Ntshabele said it was still possible to reach a trade deal with the US before 7 August, and called on Ramaphosa to renew 'intensive negotiations'. 'The category of seasonal fresh produce offers clear mutual benefits to both countries. South African citrus is exported to the US during the northern hemisphere's summer months. This secures continued supply in the category and in no way threatens domestic US growers. 'It is notable that Brazilian orange juice has been exempted from US tariffs. Fresh South African citrus plays a significant role in keeping America healthy, keeping citrus consumers in the category, and in avoiding possible citrus price increases. 'We have passed the middle of the southern hemisphere's citrus season, and local citrus growers have managed to accelerate a limited number of shipments to the US in the past weeks, which has mitigated some of the effects of the tariff on the current season's US exports. But should a beneficial trade deal not be concluded, our next export season will feel the full effect of the tariff.' Ntshabele welcomed the department's emergency measures, but said that without a deal, 'Our growers in the Western and Northern Cape will face a potentially devastating scenario, especially since the US citrus market's appetite for our produce until very recently offered the potential for creating many more local citrus jobs.' 'No company can compete with 30% tariffs' The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Friday said it was 'extremely concerned' about the impact of the 30% tariff on all South African goods, barring minerals. 'We fear the devastation this will wreak upon farmworkers in the citrus industry from the Western Cape to Limpopo, to motor manufacturing workers from the Eastern Cape to Gauteng. No company can compete with 30% tariffs. Many may close,' said Cosatu in a statement. Daily Maverick reported previously that Trump's punishing tariffs would kneecap South African industries, including the automotive sector and the citrus industry. 'This calamity has been made worse as South Africa has been unfairly made a global skunk with comparatively far better tariffs of 15% announced for neighbouring states, economic sector competitors and most of the world, ironically including many regimes with dubious understandings of the rule of law and real human rights abuses and genocides, who will now have a real advantage over South African exports,' Cosatu added. In a statement on Friday morning, DA spokespersons on Trade, Industry and International Relations, MPs Toby Chance and Ryan Smith, said that the commencement of the 30% tariffs on SA goods was a 'devastating outcome' for the country. 'Both the departments of Trade, Industry and Competition, and International Relations and Cooperation should hang their heads in profound shame today. This 'no deal' scenario is due to sheer negligence, failed diplomacy and ineptitude,' they said. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber said that the imposition of the 30% tariffs was a 'big blow for local businesses, especially in the automotive and agricultural sectors'. 'The Eastern Cape economy is likely to be the most adversely affected in the country by these developments. 'We are deeply concerned about the impact these developments may have on our automotive industry, which is anchored by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) which undertake completely knocked down assembly in South Africa. These OEMs are responsible for creating well over a 100,000 jobs at their own operations and within their components supplier networks. 'Furthermore it is estimated that the knock-on employment impact of these OEMs and components manufacturers results in over 500,000 formal jobs being created across the entire automotive supply chain. Around 40% of automotive employment in the country is located in the Eastern Cape,' the chamber said in a statement. DM
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Ramaphosa remains hopeful in US tariff negotiations
President Cyril Ramaphosa is still hopeful that South Africa can find a way out of the US tariffs within the next seven days. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed hope that his administration will still be able to find a way out of the 30% tariffs that US President Donald Trump implemented on Friday, but to be effective within the next seven days from the deadline. In case South Africa fails to convince Trump, the Presidency said in a statement released on Friday that the government was finalising a package to support local companies affected by the tariffs. 'The package consists of a number of measures to assist companies, producers, and workers affected by the tariffs on SA exports to the US,' read the statement. Ramaphosa's office will announce the details of the measures in due course. The office said, according to Trump's Executive Order published late this week, the products affected by the tariffs when exported to the US market include copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber articles, certain critical minerals, stainless steel scrap, and energy products. Addressing the media after the inauguration of Firoz Cachalia as the acting police minister on Friday, Ramaphosa said the seven days were the window period for the continuation of the engagements with the US. He stated that South Africa was not the worst affected among many countries by Trump's tariffs, although some countries fared slightly better. He said his government was in the process of holding discussions with the United States, as some local companies were dealing with the US customers. 'We export vehicles, steel, aluminum, and citrus, so we have to engage with them and find a way to reach a settlement. So, within the window that is still open, we are hoping that we will find a way to settle this matter. 'So intensive negotiations are under way,' said Ramaphosa. After his private meeting with Trump at the White House on May 21, Ramaphosa expressed hope that he had mended the relationship. The visit was prompted by allegations that South Africa was mistreating its Afrikaner citizens and that it was in support of US enemies. However, it became clear this week that Trump was still hostile when he told journalists that he thought he would send someone to represent him in the G20 Summit to be held in Johannesburg in November because he had problems with South Africa's 'very, very bad policies, where lots of people are being killed'. As the country was still counting days before the tariff deadline, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced that the country was swiftly expanding its global trade partnerships as a strategy to mitigate the impact of the US tariffs on its exports. He called on the country not to waste time by being overly reliant on the US market. Steenhuisen said the country was already strengthening its trade alliances with the likes of Chile, Peru, and New Zealand 'to jointly lobby for fair and stable trade treatment of fresh produce' through the Southern Hemisphere Association of Fresh Fruit Exporters. He also said the state had finalised new phytosanitary protocols for the export of avocados to China, table grapes to Vietnam and the Philippines, and maize to India. Ramaphosa's administration said during its engagements with the US, it submitted a Framework Deal to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment relations between the two countries. Ramaphosa was still optimistic that all channels of communication with Trump would remain open. 'Our negotiators are ready pending an invitation from the US. South Africa and the US trade relations are complementary in nature, and South African exports do not pose a threat to US industry,' read the statement. The government was using its diplomatic channels with the US to safeguard its national interests for ensuring that companies keep producing high-quality products destined for the world, to prevent job losses. The latest Executive Order stated that products that were already on their way to the US via vessels before 12h01 am, Eastern Daylight Time, seven days after Friday, and entered for consumption, or withdrawn from a warehouse for consumption, before 12h01am Eastern Daylight Time on October 5, 2025, will not be subject to the tariffs. In a joint statement issued on Friday, MPs DA MPs Toby Chance and Ryan Smith blamed Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and International Relations and Cooperation's Ronald Lamola for failing to secure a trade deal with the US. 'An executive order from the White House last night makes clear that US-imposed tariffs are now a certainty, to be levied on South African goods and produce from 07 August 2025, due to the negligence and ineptitude of two ANC ministers and their departments. 'Both the departments of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC), and International Relations & Cooperation should hang their heads in profound shame today,' said the MPs. On July 29, the DTIC said the government was not going to retaliate against the tariffs, but was preparing itself for any scenario. 'We have put our best foot forward, bringing together the subject specialists within our ranks who have dug deep to ensure that our country is adequately prepared for a number of potential scenarios. We have planned for these scenarios and have not sat idly. 'We are working with other government departments on a response plan, which includes a support desk within the DTIC. Our response package also focuses on demand-side interventions in the impacted industries,' read the DTIC statement.
