Ramaphosa Under Fire to Appoint US Ambassador as Tariff Deadline Looms

Mounting diplomatic tensions threaten SA’s economy as Washington prepares to hit exports with 30% tariffs

As South Africa’s economy teeters under the weight of local challenges, a new storm is brewing across the Atlantic. With less than two weeks until the United States imposes harsh new tariffs on South African goods, President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing mounting political pressure to do what many say should’ve been done months ago: appoint an ambassador to Washington.

The stakes are high, not just diplomatically, but economically. The US has warned of 30% tariffs on South African exports, and whispers of South Africa’s possible ejection from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) could be catastrophic. For context, AGOA gives South African products duty-free access to the massive US market, supporting thousands of jobs back home.

Yet, despite the looming crisis, South Africa still has no official ambassador in Washington DC.

Fallout from failed diplomacy

The vacancy stems from a diplomatic spat that exploded earlier this year when Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s former ambassador to the US, was expelled by the Trump administration. Rasool’s candid remarks during a webinar, where he linked Trump’s “Make America Great Again” rhetoric to white supremacist anxieties, ignited fury in Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio labelled Rasool a “race-baiting politician who hates America,” effectively blacklisting him.

To patch things up, Ramaphosa appointed Mcebisi Jonas as a special envoy. But Washington wasn’t buying it. Jonas, who once called Trump “a racist, homophobic, narcissistic right-winger,” was quietly denied a diplomatic visa in May. The Biden administration might’ve shrugged this off, but under Trump’s renewed presidency, this was a red flag that didn’t go unnoticed.

GNU partners demand action

Back home, the pressure is growing within Ramaphosa’s own fragile Government of National Unity (GNU). Partners like the IFP and GOOD Party say the time for delay is over.

“The President owes the nation an update on where we stand with the US,” said GOOD Party Secretary-General Brett Herron. “We’re heading straight into a trade and diplomatic crisis, and silence is not a strategy.”

IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa echoed those concerns, warning that inaction could hurt not just politics, but South Africa’s upcoming handover of the G20 Presidency to the US, a symbolic moment at a time when relations are hanging by a thread.

Presidency brushes off DA pressure

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has been especially vocal, accusing the Presidency of misleading the public by continuing to refer to Jonas as a special envoy, even after Washington made it clear he wasn’t welcome.

But the Presidency isn’t taking the criticism lying down. Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya accused the DA of engaging in “ideological tourism” and spreading disinformation, insisting Jonas’s role has been behind the scenes, not as a formal ambassador, but as a facilitator in trade negotiations.

“Mr Jonas has not been required to visit the US. He supports our strategy from here,” said Magwenya, pointing to recent contact between President Ramaphosa and Trump as a sign that back channels are still open.

Still, with no clear appointment in sight and DIRCO redirecting media questions to the Presidency, many wonder who’s actually steering the ship.

A costly diplomatic silence

The lack of clarity has left businesses, exporters, and the public in the dark and on edge. A 30% tariff could slam major South African industries from automotive to agriculture, while losing AGOA status would shut the door on over 6,500 duty-free products currently traded with the US.

Economic analysts have warned that even short-term uncertainty can damage investor confidence. In a post-COVID world still recovering from supply chain disruptions and inflation, South Africa can hardly afford that.

What’s next for SA-US ties?

What makes this situation especially troubling is its timing. The world is watching how South Africa navigates its leadership role in the G20, its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and its evolving identity on the global stage.

For now, the big question remains unanswered: who will represent South Africa in Washington? And will that appointment come before the trade axe falls?

President Ramaphosa’s next move won’t just define his foreign policy, it could shape South Africa’s economic fate for years to come.

{Source: IOL}

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