South Africa still seeks US trade deal days before tariff deadline

Pretoria has been tight-lipped about its negotiations with Trump administration ahead of the Aug 1 deadline

Containers are moved from rail cars at the Container Terminal at the port in Durban, South Africa, Apr 10, 2025. REUTERS/Rogan Ward

South Africa's trade ministry said on Tuesday that it still wanted to negotiate a trade deal with the United States, before a 30 percent tariff on its exports to the US is due to kick in on Friday.

Pretoria has been tight-lipped about its negotiations with US President Donald Trump's administration ahead of the Aug 1 deadline, which comes as the two countries' relationship has deteriorated over South Africa's domestic race policy and its genocide case against Israel, which Israel denies.

In a statement, the trade ministry said it was still waiting for "substantive feedback from our US counterparts on the final status on our framework deal".