South Africa has reopened trade negotiations with the US but says it will not amend domestic laws to secure more favourable terms.
A government statement seen by Bloomberg confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke by phone with his US counterpart Donald Trump on Wednesday, the eve of Washington’s August 7, 2025 tariff deadline.
The call signals the government’s attempt to revive talks with its second-largest trading partner after negotiations stalled following the leaders’ White House meeting in May.
The discussions come as South Africa battles with the fallouts of a sweeping 30% tariff on all its US-bound goods — the highest rate imposed on any African nation under Trump’s new trade regime.
In May, South Africa’s vehicle exports to the US plunged 85% after Washington imposed a 25% tariff on automotive imports in April. The trade ministry estimates the measures threaten at least 30,000 jobs, while the central bank warns that more than 100,000 positions in the automotive and agriculture industries could be at risk if the tariffs take full effect.
The country is already grappling with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. In July, Pretoria sought to avoid the duties by offering to purchase liquefied natural gas from the US, but the proposal is still pending.
However, officials insist there will be no policy changes to appease Washington.
“The transformation agenda of this country is non-negotiable,” said Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency, on Thursday, referring to laws aimed at empowering Black South Africans excluded from the economy under apartheid.
Relations between the two nations have deteriorated since Trump’s return to office in January, strained by US criticism of South Africa’s racial equity policies, its close ties with Russia and Iran, and its legal case against Israel over the Gaza war.
Despite tensions, the presidency said both leaders had agreed to maintain dialogue.
“The two leaders undertook to continue with further engagements recognising the various trade negotiations the US is currently involved in,” the statement read.
“Respective trade negotiating teams will take forward more detailed discussions,” it added.
Earlier in the month, Ramaphosa revealed plans to speed up the search for alternative export markets “within Africa and beyond” amid growing uncertainty over trade with the US.
