• President Cyril Ramaphosa said envoys are in New York and Washington for trade talks.

• The U.S. imposed 30% tariffs on South African goods from August 7, hitting auto and farm exports.

• SARB warns up to 100,000 auto jobs could be lost; agriculture also faces heavy impact.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that envoys have been sent to the United States to negotiate trade relief with the Trump administration after earlier efforts to lower tariffs failed. The delegation is expected to meet lawmakers, business leaders, and officials in New York and Washington.

The move follows South Africa’s revised trade offer to the U.S. on August 12 after new 30% tariffs on South African products came into effect on August 7. The U.S. is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth $17.64 billion in 2023, driven mainly by the automotive and agricultural sectors.

The tariff hike is weighing heavily on both industries. South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago warned the protectionist measure could cost about 100,000 jobs in the automotive sector. Analysts also expect major losses for citrus, table grape, and wine producers.

Other African economies are also bracing for the fallout from U.S. protectionism. According to a report published in August by ODI Global, low- and middle-income countries could lose around $89 billion annually due to falling exports to the U.S.

The think tank’s ranking of the most vulnerable nations includes six African countries in the global top 10: Burundi, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan.