Trump’s decision is a huge blow to South Africa. The US is its second-biggest trading partner, and South Africa’s automobile and farming sectors had duty-free access to the US market.
Trump sent letters to South Africa and 13 other countries, informing them of his latest tariff plans.
The US president said the rates could be modified “upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your country”.
“We have had years to discuss our trading relationship with South Africa, and have concluded that we must move away from these long-term, and very persistent, trade deficits engendered by South Africa’s tariff, and non-tariff, policies and trade barriers,” Trump said in his letter.
“Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge South Africa a tariff of only 30% on any and all South African products sent to the United States, separate from all sectoral tariffs,” he added.
Trump said that if South Africa were to increase its tariffs in response to his announcement, the amount it chooses to raise them by would be added on top of the existing 30%.
“If you wish to open your heretofore closed trading markets to the United States, and eliminate your tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter.”
In response, Ramaphosa contested the new tariffs, saying the issue was still under consideration by negotiating teams from South Africa and the US.
“This 30% tariff is based on a particular interpretation of the balance of trade between South Africa and the United States,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.
He added that more than half of the goods South Africa imported from the US were not taxed, and the average tariff on the rest was 7.6%
Importantly, Ramaphosa said that 56% of goods enter South Africa at the 0% ‘most favoured nation tariff’, with 77% of US goods entering the South African market at that level.
He said South Africa would continue with its diplomatic efforts to ensure a “more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship” with the US.
In April, Trump imposed a 30% tariff on South Africa, as part of his global “reciprocal” tariffs, before agreeing to suspend their implementation for 90 days.
South Africa has continued to engage the United States, most recently at a meeting held on the sidelines of the US-Africa Summit on 23 June 2025 in Luanda.
Ramaphosa said that it was at this meeting where South Africa learned of the template the US wants to use to engage sub-Saharan Africa on matters of trade.
While the South African negotiating team awaits this template, Ramaphosa has instructed the team to urgently engage with the US on the basis of the Framework Deal that South Africa submitted to the US on 20 May 2025.
This Framework deal addresses the issues initially raised by the US, including South Africa’s supposed trade surplus, unfair trade practices and lack of reciprocity from the US.
“We urge government trade negotiations teams and South African companies to accelerate their diversification efforts in order to promote better resilience in both global supply chains and the South African economy,” the president said.
