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.

bongani.hans@inl.co.za

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