South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday, September 9, that officials from his Government have been dispatched to the United States to lay the groundwork for trade negotiations aimed at easing steep tariffs.
The move comes after months of unsuccessful attempts to reach an agreement with the Trump administration following Washington’s decision to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports.
Ramaphosa told parliament that representatives from the Presidency and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition will engage U.S. officials, lawmakers, and business leaders in New York and Washington in the coming days. While South Africa has submitted a revised trade proposal, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office has not yet confirmed the start of formal discussions.