South African President Cyril Ramaphosa phoned U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday in a last-minute effort to ease trade tensions, just 24 hours before a 30 percent duty on all South African exports takes effect.
According to a statement from the Presidency, both leaders “agreed to maintain high-level engagement” and instructed their negotiating teams to accelerate detailed discussions. The White House confirmed the call but offered no additional details.
The tariff, announced earlier this month, will be applied to every South African product entering the U.S. from Friday, raising fears in Pretoria of job losses and disrupted supply chains.
Presidency Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told reporters that Ramaphosa’s outreach forms part of a broader strategy launched during his May visit to Washington. “There is still room for constructive dialogue,” she said, citing the leaders’ decision to keep lines open.
Ties between the two capitals have been strained. Washington has accused Pretoria of policies that “unfairly target” white Afrikaner farmers and in February cut certain aid programs in response. The United States is South Africa’s third-largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $20.5 billion in 2024, U.S. figures show.
Wednesday’s phone call was Ramaphosa’s second with Trump since taking office last year.