Dirco says still no clarity on US tariffs calculations
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola says South Africa needs clarity on what the 31% reciprocal goods tariffs the US government is imposing on the country are based on.
On Wednesday, on what US President Donald Trump called "Liberation Day", he announced levies on imports into the US.
All countries will be subjected to a baseline duty rate of 10 per cent duties from Saturday.
However, specific nations have been slapped with steeper tariffs—Lesotho being the hardest hit at 50 per cent, Madagascar at 47 per cent, Mauritius at 40 per cent, and Botswana at 38 per cent.
Lamola says they will reach out to US officials through avenues such as bilateral engagements.
"In our presidency of the G20, as the recent engagements at the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group indicate, the issue of supply chain geographic diversification is a challenge confronting all open markets economies across the group.
READ: US tariff on SA unfair - Agri Business Chamber
"This diversification supports South Africa's industrial strategy and reduces the dependence on single destinations markets or exports, or single sources for intermediate input requirements."
He's confirmed some products are exempt from the new tariff.
" It is important to know that products such as copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber articles, certain critical minerals and energy products have been exempted from the reciprocal tariffs. Some of these materials are already key parts of the United States of America requirements."
Lamola says South Africa will step up efforts to diversify its trade partners across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Lamola adds that the US accounted for 7.5% of South Africa’s total exports in 2024, while South Africa made up just 0.4% of total US imports.
He says this shows South Africa does not pose a threat to the USA.
Find us on social media
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
