US President Donald Trump has posted a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Truth Social informing him that starting August 1, South Africa would be charged a tariff of 30% on any and all products sent into the United States.

Delayed reciprocal tariffs, first announced in April, were due to go into effect on July 9, but the pause has now been extended by a further three weeks.

Trump also warned in the letter that if South Africa were to raise tariffs on the United States, this figure would be added on top of the 30%.

Trump has again cited the trade deficit with countries as the main reason for the imposition of this tariff. He also earlier threatened countries that align themselves with the anti-American policies of BRICS with an additional 10% tariff on exports to the United States.

Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports that the current US goods trade deficit with South Africa was $8.8 billion in 2024.


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