President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on South African goods to 30%, delivering a major economic blow despite a recent Oval Office visit from President Cyril Ramaphosa. The White House announced the move Thursday through an executive order targeting nations that failed to negotiate favorable trade deals with the United States.
South Africa, which counts the U.S. as its second-largest trading partner, had pushed hard to avoid the tariff hike. Officials argued they were making “all the right arguments,” but failed to offer the compromises Washington wanted. Trump cited South Africa’s refusal to adjust non-tariff barriers—specifically its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies—as a major obstacle.
Neighboring Zimbabwe, which agreed to drop tariffs on U.S. goods, received a standard 15% tariff. South Africa not only received double that rate but may also face an additional 10% surcharge. Trump pointed to South Africa’s alliance with BRICS and what he called “anti-American” stances, including its support for Iran and Hamas and opposition to Israel.
The tariff decision lands just weeks before the September review of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. trade agreement that provides preferential access to African nations. South Africa could be expelled from AGOA or see the agreement canceled entirely.
During a May visit to the White House, Ramaphosa reportedly brought up accusations of “white genocide” in South Africa, a move that misfired diplomatically. He failed to present concrete trade concessions, and South Africa also left its diplomatic post in Washington vacant. The previous ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, had been expelled for publicly insulting President Trump, and his intended replacement was denied a U.S. visa.
The tariff hike signals Trump’s continued push for trade fairness, punishing countries unwilling to reciprocate economically or diplomatically. South Africa is now scrambling to provide support to industries hit hardest by the new tariffs.
