Ramaphosa: Trump’s 30% tariff based on flawed trade data

By Johnathan Paoli

President Cyril Ramaphosa has pushed back strongly against the United States’ imposition of sweeping 30% tariffs on South African exports, rejecting President Donald Trump’s claims of an unsustainable trade deficit and vowing to pursue a “more balanced and mutually beneficial” economic relationship.

Spokesperson for the President, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed that Ramaphosa had noted the announcement by Trump, but contested the correctness of the reason behind the increase.

“This 30% tariff is based on a particular interpretation of the balance of trade between South Africa and the United States. Accordingly, South Africa maintains that the 30% reciprocal tariff is not an accurate representation of available trade data,” Magwenya said.

The tariffs, set to take effect on 1 August, were announced in a formal letter from Trump to Ramaphosa, received on Monday.

South Africa is one of several countries targeted in what Washington has framed as a broader effort