TRUMP IMPOSES NEW TARIFFS ON SA
US President Donald Trump has announced new 30% tariffs on imports that are imported from South Africa to the US.
The news was announced by Trump’s administration in a letter addressed to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and signed by Trump. The letter was posted to Trump’s Truth Social.
The letter stated: “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. “Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal. 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.”
Similar letters were sent to the leaders of Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Myanmar, Laos and Kazakhstan.
Trump added that should South Africa retaliate with its own tariff increase, the country will be met with further hikes.
He also added that he will consider an adjustment if South Africa wishes “to open [its] heretofore closed trading markets to the United States, and eliminate [its] tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers”.
The new 30% tariff will take place from 1 August.
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