US to Impose 30% Tariff on South African Goods

WASHINGTON, D.C. – US President Donald Trump has announced that South African exports to the United States will be hit with a 30% tariff, a move that effectively signals the end of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). The new tariffs, set to take effect on August 7, represent the highest rate imposed on any sub-Saharan African country under the new policy.

The decision is a major setback for South Africa, whose goods had previously enjoyed duty-free access to the US market under Agoa, a trade pact designed to foster economic growth on the continent. The US is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, with key sectors such as automotive, farming, and textiles now facing significant new costs.

In a broader application of the policy, several other African nations will also be affected. Exports from Nigeria, Ghana, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe will face a 15% tariff, while goods from Kenya and Ethiopia will incur a lower 10% rate. In North Africa, Algeria and Libya will face the same 30% tariff as South Africa, with Tunisian products receiving a 25% rate.

President Trump has consistently argued that tariffs protect American businesses from foreign competition and boost domestic manufacturing. The move comes as US-South Africa relations have become increasingly strained, with the US president previously halting aid and accusing the country of discrimination against its white minority—an accusation South Africa has denied.

In response to the announcement, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his administration would “continue negotiating with the US” and had already “submitted a framework deal” to Washington. Ramaphosa also stated that the government is “finalising a package to support companies that are vulnerable to the reciprocal tariffs.”

The government noted that certain products, including copper, pharmaceuticals, and some energy products, would be exempt from the new tariffs. President Trump had previously indicated he may not attend the upcoming G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg later this year.