Trump sets date for 30% tariff on South Africa

US President Donald Trump has announced that goods from South Africa will be subject to a 30% tariff from 1 August 2025.

The news was in a letter that Trump addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa and published on his Truth Social Media account.

Trump said that, while the two countries have a strong trading relationship, the trade deficit between the two countries was too large.

“We have decided to move forward with you (South Africa), but only with more balanced and fair trade,” said Trump.

“We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with South Africa, and have concluded that we must move away from these long-term, and very persistent, trade deficits engendered by South Africa’s Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers.”

Trump said that a tariff of 30% will be imposed on any South African product sent into the United States, which would be separate from all sectoral tariffs.

Any goods shipped to evade a tariff will only receive a larger tariff in response, he added.

“Please understand that the 30% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your country.”

“There will be no tariff if South Africa, or companies within your country, decide to build or manufacture products within the United States, and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly and professionally.”

He noted that the approval process to set up manufacturing in the US would only take a few weeks, and South Africa would receive relief from the higher tariffs as a result.

The looming tariffs are in line with those announced in Trump’s “Liberation Day” speech in April, which sent the global economy into turmoil.

Initially planned to come into effect on 9 April, Trump hit pause on the implementation for 90 days to allow countries to negotiate better terms with the US.

In the interim, the flat global 10% tariff remained in effect.

The 90-day pause ends on 9 July, with the Whitehouse now giving countries a three-week advance notice of the impending implementation.

Trump’s 30% tariff in South Africa was deemed a discounted “reciprocal tariff” after he claimed that South Africa imposes tariffs of 60% on all American goods, directly and indirectly.

However, the 60% rate calculation was based on the trade deficit between the US and South Africa, not any trade or tariff policy.

As a smaller emerging market economy, South Africa exports far more goods to America, a developed and consumer-led economy, than it imports.

The US imported $14.8 billion in goods from South Africa, while only exporting $5.8 billion to the country. This gave it an ‘imbalance’ of -60.6% – hence the tariff.

South Africa was not the only country to be put on notice for the tariff. Japan and South Korea, major exporters to the US, also received notice of 25% tariffs kicking in on 1 August.