South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced ongoing discussions with the United States aimed at easing tariffs introduced under President Donald Trump’s administration. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Ramaphosa said his government seeks to reverse duties imposed on South African exports after earlier attempts to secure a trade agreement failed.
“We want tariffs that President Trump is seeking to levy on us and has already started, to be reduced,” Ramaphosa stated, underscoring concerns that global trade is being weaponized. Earlier at the United Nations General Assembly, he warned that “geopolitical shocks and unprecedented trade policy volatility are destabilizing the global economy and jeopardizing a critical source of development finance.”
Ramaphosa also urged the continuation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) — a key U.S. trade program that grants duty-free access to African exports. The agreement, vital for South Africa’s industrial and agricultural sectors, has faced uncertainty after failing to advance in Congress last year and amid renewed protectionist trade policies from Washington.
South Africa, as the continent’s most industrialized economy, has been among the biggest beneficiaries of AGOA. Ramaphosa’s diplomatic push signals Pretoria’s determination to maintain stable trade ties with Washington while advocating for fairer global commerce.
