South Africa Pursues Global Trade Partnerships as U.S. Tariffs Threaten Economy

Edited By: Tendai Zola

South African economists and officials are calling for enhanced global cooperation as the country grapples with the economic fallout from newly imposed U.S. tariffs. Just two weeks into Washington’s latest trade measures, South Africa faces a 30 percent tariff—the highest in sub-Saharan Africa—on key exports, prompting warnings of significant job losses and slower economic growth.

The tariffs target sectors representing about 65 percent of U.S.-bound exports, including vehicles, mining products, and manufacturing goods, while sparing copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber, certain critical minerals, stainless steel scrap, and energy products. Standard Bank Group has already revised South Africa’s 2025 growth forecast down to 0.9 percent, compared to 1.7 percent projected in March, with 2026 growth expected at 1.3 percent.

Economic experts argue that the U.S. is weaponizing trade as a political tool. Professor Jannie Rossouw of the University of the Witwatersrand warned that the tariffs will have a severe impact on vehicle and agricultural exports, putting thousands of jobs at risk amid already high unemployment. Goolam Ballim, chief economist at Standard Bank Group, described the policy as part of America’s broader strategy to maintain global dominance while slowing the rise of other nations.

In response, the South African government is actively diversifying export markets, boosting intra-African trade, and expanding ties with countries in Asia and the Middle East, including China, Thailand, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. China remains South Africa’s largest trading partner, absorbing 20 percent of its exports, compared to less than 8 percent sent to the U.S.