Trump, in a letter to Ramaphosa, claimed the tariff is meant to match trade barriers the U.S. faces in South Africa. Similar letters were reportedly sent to more than a dozen other countries.

Ramaphosa, however, disputed the figures used to justify the move. According to South Africa’s trade data, most American goods already enter the country duty-free, and the average tariff stands at just 7.6%.

Calling for a balanced and respectful approach to trade, Ramaphosa emphasized South Africa’s willingness to continue diplomatic talks. He also welcomed the possibility of a review of the new tariff once negotiations move forward.

Trump’s letter accused South Africa of maintaining long-standing trade imbalances through tariffs and non-tariff barriers, arguing that the relationship has not been fair to the U.S. He added that further increases to South African tariffs would trigger higher duties from the U.S. as well.

Trump did leave the door open to future adjustments, saying that if South Africa opens its markets and eliminates barriers, the new tariffs could be reconsidered. He also warned that countries aligning with BRICS and adopting “anti-American” policies would face an additional 10% tariff.

This development marks another sharp turn in the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and several developing economies, raising concerns over how these measures will impact global commerce in the months ahead.

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