South Africa insists its exports bolster—rather than threaten—the U.S. economy and national security, days before Washington slaps a 30 % duty on South African goods.
In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said South Africa’s shipments of industrial minerals, off-season fruit and wine “fill gaps in U.S. supply chains” and do not displace domestic producers. Pretoria argued the two economies are complementary:
- Supply chains: South African chrome, manganese and platinum feed U.S. manufacturing, while counter-seasonal citrus keeps supermarket shelves stocked.
- Investment flow: More than 600 U.S. firms operate in South Africa, and South African multinationals—from Sasol to Naspers—employ Americans across several states.
“We pose no trade threat to the United States. Our goal is value-adding, industrial partnerships—not extractive, colonial-era models,” the ministry said, adding that official U.S. trade-balance figures ignore Washington’s sizeable services surplus with South Africa.
Starting 8 August, the U.S.—South Africa’s third-largest trading partner after the EU and China—will impose unilateral tariffs of up to 30 % on a wide range of South African imports.
President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that the global trading environment is “increasingly turbulent,” urging local industries to build resilience while Pretoria continues talks with Washington to avert job losses in agriculture and auto manufacturing.
“We cannot afford complacency,” Ramaphosa said. “Government remains committed to constructive engagement with the U.S. as we adapt to these headwinds.”