SA faces 30% US tariff after failing to reach trade deal

By Reuters

South Africa faces a 30% tariff on its exports to the United States starting next week, a move expected to cost tens of thousands of jobs after the country failed to secure a trade deal before a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump.

In an executive order on Thursday, Trump slapped new tariff rates ranging from 10% to 41% on dozens of countries as he seeks to reshape global trade on more favourable terms for the U.S.

The order said the higher import duty rates would take effect in seven days.

South Africa has tried for months to negotiate a deal with Washington and offered to buy U.S. liquefied natural gas and invest $3.3 billion in U.S. industries in exchange for lower tariffs. But the effort was unsuccessful, even after Pretoria made a last-minute attempt to improve its offer.

South Africa’s Trade Minister Parks Tau said the higher tariff was a threat to the