Ramaphosa pushes back on US tariff hike, urges balanced trade talks

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pushed back against a unilateral move by the United States to impose a 30 percent tariff on South African imports, calling the decision an inaccurate reflection of existing trade dynamics.

In a statement released Tuesday, Ramaphosa said that the 30 percent tariff does not align with available trade data. He said the average tariff on imported goods entering South Africa stands at 7.6 percent, and 77 percent of US goods entering the South African market do so duty free.

The new tariffs, announced by US President Donald Trump on Monday, are set to take effect on Aug 1. In a letter to Ramaphosa, Trump said the measure addresses what he called a long-standing trade imbalance, citing South Africa's "tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers".

Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa remains open to negotiations. The statement said that South Africa learned of a template with which the US wishes to engage sub-Saharan Africa on matters of trade, but that the South African negotiating team has yet to see its details. 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 May 20, which 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.

The South African government emphasized that continued diplomatic efforts to reach a "more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship" would continue, welcoming Washington's indication that the tariffs could still be revised.

Ramaphosa also called on trade officials and local businesses to accelerate diversification and build resilience in global supply chains, amid what he described as a shifting international trade environment.

The US has issued similar tariff notices to several countries, sparking concern among developing economies over rising protectionism in global markets.