South African experts have criticized the US tariffs as "disruptive" to global trade and the economy, and said South Africa is showing resilience to the tariffs by expanding South-South trade.
The US recently imposed tariffs on 60 partners which it alleges use forced labor. Countries will face tariffs of between 10 and 12.5 percent.
Mpho Parks Tau, South African minister of trade, industry and competition, said his country will face a 12.5 percent tariff from the US. He said the tariffs will exclude automobiles and auto components, as well as steel and aluminum, which are already subject to other US tariffs. South African products such as macadamia nuts, oranges, tea, spices, seeds, cane sugar, orange and lime juice, syrups, chemicals, critical minerals, platinum group metals and other precious metals and pharmaceuticals will be exempted from the latest tariffs, said Tau.
The South African government will continue to engage with the US with a view to either eliminating or reducing the tariffs, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said in a statement.
John Bideri, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters at the Pan-African Parliament, said the US tariffs are disrupting global trade. He said the committee has deliberated on it and expressed concern over the tariffs because they are bad for business in Africa and globally.
