Ramaphosa Secures US Support for Jobs and Trade Despite Tense Trump Talks

Despite some uncomfortable moments during a high-stakes briefing in Washington, President Cyril Ramaphosa says his recent meeting with former US President Donald Trump laid the foundation for deeper economic ties and stronger cooperation between South Africa and the United States.

Ramaphosa was in the US capital to discuss trade, investment, and diplomatic relations. While the visit included a tense exchange over widely debunked allegations of discrimination and genocide in South Africa, Ramaphosa said the private discussions with Trump were far more productive than what played out in front of the cameras.

“Our goal was to reinforce the message that South Africa remains open for business, and that the US remains a vital trade and investment partner,” Ramaphosa said.

US Companies Support Thousands of South African Jobs

According to data from the US Department of Commerce, over 600 American companies operate in South Africa, employing roughly 148,000 locals. Ramaphosa emphasized that these partnerships are key to job creation and economic stability—and that his meeting with Trump reaffirmed the importance of maintaining those ties.

The president said both sides agreed to establish a dedicated economic cooperation channel to focus on tariffs, trade issues, and investment opportunities.

“Our discussions covered efforts to improve the ease of doing business in South Africa and ongoing structural reforms designed to attract even more international investors,” he explained.

Tourism and Trade Still Thrive

Beyond business investment, Ramaphosa noted that South Africa continues to be a favored destination for American tourists—with nearly 400,000 US visitors recorded last year. This, along with continued corporate interest, highlights the mutual benefits of a strong US-South Africa relationship.

“We invited the US government and American businesses to explore further opportunities here,” said Ramaphosa. “There’s a lot more we can achieve by working together.”

Addressing the Elephant in the Room

During a press briefing in the Oval Office, the South African delegation was unexpectedly presented with video clips and reports claiming widespread violence against white farmers—many of which have since been exposed as misleading or outright false.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that violent crime is a serious issue in South Africa but pushed back firmly against attempts to portray the situation as genocide.

“As South Africans, we don’t shy away from our challenges. We address them head-on, and we welcome honest dialogue,” he said.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation that Trump would attend the G20 Summit in Johannesburg later this year, where South Africa is expected to hand over the presidency of the G20 to the United States.

“This was a significant step forward in reaffirming our place in the global economy and building stronger, mutually beneficial partnerships,” Ramaphosa said.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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