South Africa Heads Back to Washington: Can Ramaphosa Strike a Trade Deal with Trump?

Pretoria makes another push

President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed this week that South Africa has sent a delegation of senior officials to the United States to prepare for long-awaited trade negotiations with the Trump administration. The mission comes after months of failed attempts to strike a deal to reverse steep new tariffs that Washington slapped on imports from Africa’s most industrialised economy.

The 30% tariff, imposed by President Donald Trump last month, has rattled exporters in mining, manufacturing, and agriculture. Now, Pretoria is heading back to Washington and New York in a last-ditch effort to secure a breakthrough.

“The Presidency and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition have sent representatives who are preparing for further formal negotiations with the United States government, which should be taking place in just a few days,” Ramaphosa told Parliament.

What’s on the table

South African officials are expected to meet Trump’s team, US lawmakers, and business leaders. At the heart of the talks: South Africa’s critical minerals, including platinum and rare earths, which the US needs for industries ranging from clean energy to defence.

Ramaphosa was quick to point out that Pretoria won’t just be shipping out raw ore. “Even as we may well want to export the critical minerals, we want them to leave the shores of South Africa as finished products … So that is the type of discussion that we are having with them,” he said.

This position reflects a long-standing frustration in Pretoria, that Africa remains a supplier of raw materials while value-added jobs and profits are captured overseas.

A relationship under strain

The tariffs are just the latest flashpoint in a relationship that has soured in recent years. Trump has openly criticised South Africa’s affirmative action policies, accusing the government of discriminating against the white minority. His unfounded claims even led to the creation of a controversial US refugee programme for white South Africans.

At the same time, South African officials have complained that Washington has repeatedly ignored their proposals. A revised trade offer was submitted more than a month ago, yet, according to Pretoria, no meaningful response came before the tariffs were rolled out.

Domestic debates

Back home, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen suggested that securing tariff relief may require addressing some of Trump’s concerns, including his opposition to South Africa’s equity and redress programmes. That idea, however, is politically explosive: such policies remain a cornerstone of post-apartheid economic transformation.

Critics argue that bending to Washington’s demands could compromise South Africa’s sovereignty. Others say the government has little choice but to find middle ground if it wants to protect jobs and exports.

Social and business reaction

On social media, South Africans have been quick to voice frustration. Some accuse the Trump administration of bullying a smaller economy, while others question whether Pretoria has been too slow to diversify its export markets. Business leaders, meanwhile, are urging urgency. With the new tariffs already biting into margins, every day without a deal increases uncertainty.

Whether Ramaphosa’s envoys can convince Washington to rethink remains unclear. For now, the stakes are high: South Africa’s export industries, its trade balance, and its broader diplomatic standing all hang in the balance.

What is certain is that Pretoria is determined to project resilience. As Ramaphosa told Parliament, South Africa may be negotiating under pressure, but it will not negotiate from weakness.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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