Ramaphosa to send delegation to Washington to negotiate tariff reduction

By Simon Nare

President Cyril Ramaphosa says a South African delegation will travel to the United States next week to persuade President Donald Trump’s administration to further reduce the 30% tariff imposed on South African goods.

Speaking in the National Assembly on Thursday during a Questions for Oral Reply session, Ramaphosa said the government was making steady progress in its engagements with Washington, particularly through the U.S. Trade Office.

“The good thing is that the noise between our countries has quietened down, and we are now engaged in serious discussions with the US, particularly their trade office and that for us is a great advance,” said Ramaphosa.

“Let me add that a number of other countries are still in the woods discussing trade issues in that big market and they are nowhere near any form of conclusion so we do believe that we are making progress and we should be