South African products exported to the US will face a 30% tariff from 7 August, President Donald Trump has announced.
South Africa is the only country from sub-Saharan Africa singled out in the announcement, reflecting his strained relationship with Cyril Ramaphosa’s government.
Other southern African nations, including Lesotho and Zimbabwe, have been hit with a 15% tariff, which will also come into effect in seven days.
The decision is a huge blow to South Africa, as the US is its second-biggest trading partner.
South Africa’s automobile, farming and textile sectors had enjoyed duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
Ahead of Trump’s 1 August deadline, South Africa had been trying to agree a trade deal with the US, which included buying US liquefied natural gas, simplifying rules for US poultry imports and investing $3.3bn (£2.5bn) in US industries like mining, according to Reuters.
