President Cyril Ramaphosa says the unilateral tariff actions by the United States (US) are contributing to an increasingly protectionist environment, which poses great hardships and danger for the countries of the Global South.

Ramaphosa was addressing a virtual BRICS Leaders’ Summit called by Brazilian President Lula da Silva on Monday, to discuss the new tariffs.

Ramaphosa says the uncertainty of the new trading regime has already negatively affected employment levels in South Africa and is an obstacle to economic growth.

Our focus is on strengthening and collaboratively diversifying our trade and investment partnerships with Africa, Asia, the Gulf, the Americas and Europe.
https://t.co/MJe93XmaLZ

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) September 8, 2025

President Ramaphosa has urged BRICS member countries to work together to tackle global economic challenges.

Ramaphosa says they are working with fellow African countries to consolidate the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“South Africa remains firm that the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations at their core must be preserved until all member states are able to reach their developmental goals. Over the past 30 years, the WTO has worked to ensure a level playing field in global trade that is free, predictable and governed by a rules-based system.”

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