South African Trade Minister Parks Tau has met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for talks, Tau's office said on Friday, as Africa's biggest economy tries to reach a deal to roll back steep U.S. tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 30% tariff on imports from South Africa last month after President Cyril Ramaphosa's government made several unsuccessful attempts to secure a trade agreement.
The tariff rate is the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa and could cause tens of thousands of job losses at a time when South Africa's economy is barely growing and unemployment is stuck above 30%.
"Minister Tau held a cordial and constructive meeting with the USTR on matters of mutual interest. The meeting was preceded by intensive three-day discussions by senior officials," South Africa's trade ministry said in a statement.
"Both parties agreed to a roadmap that will inform future engagements towards the conclusion of the process."
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the meeting between Greer and Tau.
South Africa's relationship with the U.S. reached a diplomatic low this year over various issues, including Trump's unfounded accusations of persecution of South Africa's white minority. Those claims prompted the creation of a refugee programme for white South Africans.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen told Reuters last month that to secure lower tariffs South Africa might need to address some of Trump's criticisms, including his opposition to affirmative action laws aimed at redressing apartheid-era racial discrimination.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory have been mocked by Iran's Deputy Foreign Ministe...
At least 20 people have been killed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, ...
The United Nations has urged sustained international engagement with Afghanistan five years into Taliban rule, warning that restrictions on women a...
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or rerouted at Catania Airport over the past week as ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing eruption continues to disrupt air travel in Sicily.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
The U.S. will impose unprecedented measures on Iran in order to economically isolate the country, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said.
One person has been killed and six others injured after an explosion at a petroleum storage facility at the Port of Rotterdam, prompting an investigation into the cause.
At least 20 people have been killed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, triggering small tsunami waves and dozens of aftershocks, officials say.
Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor at the centre of a plagiarism row, has been found dead. He was appointed Cambridge's youngest ever Black professor in 2023, but quit on 5 August, after being accused of lifting passages from his PhD from the work of other academics.
Wildfires across England and Wales have reached their highest level on record, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council, as firefighters struggle to contain outbreaks following a spell of extreme heat.
A federal court has allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending temporary immigration protections for Somali nationals living in the United States, a decision that could leave more than 1,000 people vulnerable to deportation.
Iran and Afghanistan are seeking closer cooperation in agriculture, livestock and irrigation during a three-day Iranian ministerial visit to Kabul, as both sides look to strengthen trade and rural economies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment