South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized U.S. President Donald Trump‘s reciprocal tariff rate for his country and disputed the calculation that underpins it, saying it was not an accurate interpretation of the facts.
Trump sent a letter to Ramaphosa on Monday, July 7, informing him that BRICS nation South Africa would face a 30 percent reciprocal tariff to reflect the trade barriers he said the U.S. faces.
In a statement, Ramaphosa said South Africa’s understanding of the trade data is that the average tariff on imported goods stands at 7.6 percent, but more than three-quarters of U.S. goods entered on a zero percent “most favored nation tariff”.
Ramaphosa said South Africa “will continue with its diplomatic efforts towards a more balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship” with the U.S..
He also welcomed the Trump administration’s commitment to review the 30 percent reciprocal tariff once negotiations conclude.
Trump had earlier said that any country “aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS,” an economic group of developing countries, would face an additional 10 percent tariff.
This is a developing article. Updates to follow.
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