Exporters Western Cape (EWC) has urged South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to take diplomatic measures to improve relations with the US government under President Donald Trump, in order to avoid severe consequences from recently imposed tariffs.
EWC chair Terry Gale warned that the export industry could face significant job losses if Ramaphosa does not respond to Trump’s concerns. Gale believes that appeasing the US government could lead to a reduction or limitation of the tariffs. He cautioned that retaliating against US exports might result in even higher tariffs or broader measures, and urged Ramaphosa to act swiftly to restore the favorable trade relationship with the US.
However, South Africa has yet to make a decisive move to negotiate with the US by the April 9 deadline set by the Trump administration. On the same day, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola stated that the country would maintain its stance on the International Criminal Court case against Israel over the Gaza conflict—an issue that has strained relations with Washington. Trump has criticized South Africa’s diplomatic ties with entities and countries such as Hamas and Iran, which the US views as supporting terrorism.
Despite calls from industry leaders like Gale, the South African government has resisted countermeasures against US exports, choosing instead to negotiate exemptions and quota agreements. Trade Minister Parks Tau emphasized that retaliatory tariffs would be counterproductive without fully understanding the rationale behind the US’s decisions.
The recently imposed 30% reciprocal tariffs threaten several South African industries, including automotive, agriculture, processed food and beverages, chemicals, metals, and manufacturing. Tau highlighted the detrimental impact on economic growth and jobs, given the importance of the US market for South African goods. In 2024, the US accounted for 7.45% of South Africa’s total exports, whereas South Africa represented only 0.4% of US imports. The trade imbalance primarily favors South African agricultural and mineral products essential for US industries.
The Western Cape, particularly the citrus export sector, faces significant socio-economic challenges as a result. Gerrit van der Merwe, chair of the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa, noted that the local economy of Citrusdal relies heavily on citrus exports to the US, which directly support 35,000 jobs.
Gale and the EWC offered to arrange a meeting between Ramaphosa and industry stakeholders at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, urging the president to take decisive action to mitigate the impact of the tariffs. Gale lamented that a simple decision by Ramaphosa could restore relations with the US and protect the livelihoods of many South Africans.