South Africa issues trade weaponization warning

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that trade is increasingly being “used as a weapon” against a number of countries.  

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, the South African leader added that such actions jeopardize global economic stability. Ramaphosa’s remarks came after Washington imposed steep tariffs on his nation.  

The president expressed concern that escalating geopolitical tensions and abrupt shifts in trade policy are undermining development financing. He called on the international community to “redouble efforts to strengthen the link between trade and development,” emphasizing that economic pressure tactics have damaging consequences for many countries. 

“We want tariffs that President Trump is seeking to levy on us and has already started, to be reduced,” he stressed. 

Tensions between Pretoria and Washington have grown since Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January. The US administration imposed a 30% tariff on South African goods, as part of global series of tariffs affecting nearly all US import, that went into effect last month. The duties were introduced despite multiple attempts by South Africa to negotiate a revised agreement. 

Trump has also accused the South African government of mistreating the country’s white minority. It halted all US funding to Pretoria and expelled South Africa’s ambassador, labeling him “anti-American.”   

The South African government has rejected the allegations, with Ramaphosa calling them “completely false.” The two leaders met in May, but the dispute remains unresolved. 

Last week, South African Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau visited Washington to discuss a potential trade deal. After the meeting he described his visit as “constructive.” 

Earlier this month, Ramaphosa noted that the US is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, and stressed that protecting the interest of those workers is his government’s duty. 

Pretoria has been pushing to strengthen trade and investment ties through BRICS, across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.