South Africa is scrambling to shield key industries from the fallout of steep new US tariffs after failing to secure a trade deal with the Trump administration. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a relief package for affected firms following the launch of an export support desk by the trade department. Despite open communication lines with the US, negotiations remain stalled. Meanwhile, the tariffs are set to take effect starting August 8. The tariffs, set at 30%, will hit sectors like citrus and auto manufacturing especially hard, threatening thousands of jobs. In the meantime, industry leaders and unions are urging renewed talks, warning of widespread economic pain. As frustration mounts over perceived diplomatic missteps, South Africa is also exploring new markets to reduce reliance on the US.
Daily Maverick
