• President Ramaphosa criticizes the U.S. tariff as based on a disputed trade imbalance.
• South Africa says most U.S. goods enter its market duty-free and calls the tariff unjustified.
• Talks remain deadlocked as broader U.S. trade sanctions target multiple countries.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a unilateral 30% tariff on imports from South Africa.

In a statement posted July 8 on the South African presidency’s X account (formerly Twitter), Ramaphosa said the measure was “based on a particular interpretation of the balance of trade between South Africa and the United States”. An interpretation his government disputes. Negotiators from both countries are currently discussing the issue.

“Accordingly, South Africa maintains that the 30% reciprocal tariff is not an accurate representation of available trade data,” the statement said, noting that 56% of goods entering South Africa face no tariffs and that 77% of U.S. products enjoy duty-free access. The average tariff on imports stands at 7.6%, far below the 30% rate imposed by Washington.

In his message to Pretoria, President Trump justified the tariff as necessary to correct many years of tariff and non-tariff policies, as well as trade barriers from South Africa, which have led to unsustainable trade deficits with the United States.

The decision is part of a broader wave of U.S. sanctions targeting multiple countries. It comes just days after the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, where Trump warned that any nation supporting the bloc’s “anti-American” policies could face an additional 10% tariff.

At the same time, Washington has intensified the trade war launched in April, announcing 25% tariffs on imports from over 12 countries, including Tunisia. These new tariffs are set to take effect on August 1, 2025, unless new trade agreements are reached.

South Africa has been seeking a trade agreement with the United States since May, but talks have yet to yield a deal. The government said it remains committed to “diplomatic efforts” to build balanced trade relations.

In 2023, the United States was South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $17.64 billion. That figure dropped to $15.20 billion in 2024, according to the International Trade Centre.