SA questions how the US decided on its tariff hike

By Simon Nare

The South African government has questioned the source and accuracy of the tariffs imposed by the US President Donald Trump on local products exported to the US.

In a joint press conference by the International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola and Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, they argued that the imposed tariffs were not in line with international calculations or South Africa’s balance trade to the US.

Tau said the US government has since confirmed the new tariff was 31% and not 30% as published on Tuesday, and the government was waiting for clarity from the US government on how it arrived at the figure.

The minister said tariffs were traditionally transparent because they are calculated according to international norms and standards.

He said the hike was not in line with the historical figure that both countries had been working on. Further, South Africa was also