South Africa's presidency responded to new US tariffs on Thursday, calling for the negotiation of a new trade deal to ensure long-term trade certainty. US President Donald Trump's announcement on Wednesday included global reciprocal tariffs, with a 30 per cent rate imposed on South Africa. The South African presidency emphasised the urgency of securing a mutually beneficial trade agreement with the US to mitigate the impact of these tariffs. In addition to the new tariffs, a 25 per cent levy on vehicles and car parts, effective Thursday, threatens South Africa's exports, valued at over $2 billion. The presidency expressed concerns over the punitive nature of the tariffs, which it views as a barrier to shared prosperity. Attribution: Reuters Subediting: M. S. Salama
