South Africa in talks with US to secure fair trade deal

SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa has stepped up talks with the United States to secure a trade deal that will safeguard the country’s exports and protect local industries facing tariffs.

In a statement released by the Presidency, officials confirmed that members of the Ramaphosa Administration are in Washington meeting White House officials, legislators, and business leaders.

President Cyril Ramaphosa told Parliament that his government wants to secure South Africa’s continued access to the American market.

“We are on the ground, and we are working the ground in the United States as we speak,” Ramaphosa said. “Our people, who are in the United States, are now fully fired up with this type of approach, and the Minister of Trade and Industry and International Relations will be joining them, and they will be advancing those discussions.”

The President stressed that the United States is South Africa’s second largest trading partner. He added that his administration has already submitted a package to Washington, which builds on one sent in May. The details of the package remain undisclosed.

The US recently imposed a 30 percent tariff on South African fruit, sparking concerns about competitiveness in one of the country’s biggest markets.

In response, the Presidency confirmed that government is supporting affected businesses with measures that include working capital, plant, and equipment facilities. These steps aim to address short to medium-term needs while helping industries diversify their export destinations.

Ramaphosa said a new ambassador to Washington will soon be announced. “It will be a person who is capable, sufficiently well-experienced, and sufficiently well-versed in world views and world politics, and who knows the American market extremely well,” he told lawmakers.

China opens market to stone fruits

Even as talks continue with the US, South Africa has scored a breakthrough with China. Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen announced that Beijing has approved protocols allowing local farmers to export apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and prunes.

“This is significant in a number of ways. It is the first time China negotiated more than one product with us at a time. Usually they focus on one fruit type, and we got five in this particular deal,” Steenhuisen said.

The agreement comes at a delicate moment for exporters still dealing with tariffs in the US. Officials see China as a critical alternative market.

“In terms of diversification, China is a huge opportunity for South Africa, with 1.6 billion population, which is too many mouths to feed and a lot of demand for our agricultural products,” Steenhuisen explained.

He added that the deal could be finalised on the sidelines of the upcoming agricultural G20 meeting next month. Once in effect, South African apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and prunes will enter China for the first time.

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