Ramaphosa still hopeful of trade deal with US after Trump imposes tariffs

PRETORIA - With US President Donald Trump officially signing an executive order reimposing sweeping tariffs on US imports from dozens of countries, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that South Africa would continue trade negotiations with Washington.

South Africa has been slapped with a 30% tariff on all goods exported to the US.

Trump said the order was aimed at protecting American industries and reducing the trade deficit.

Speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, Ramaphosa said he was still hopeful that a deal would be stuck with the country’s second-biggest trading partner.

The president said that a mutually beneficial trade package had been put on the table. 

"We wanted a number of trade items to be exempted and we wanted to offer them the ability to invest in our economy, as well as South African companies to invest in the US. So that package is still to be fully negotiated."

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