30% Tariffs from the US government, 0% Leadership from the GNU government

Build One South Africa (BOSA) expresses deep concern over the imposition of 30% tariffs on most South African imports to the United States, which will come into effect after a seven-day window.

This marks a serious escalation in trade tensions between SA and the US, and represents a direct threat to thousands of South African jobs in key export sectors such as automotive manufacturing, agriculture, and mining.

The outcome is not solely the result of an increasingly protectionist White House. It is a self-inflicted wound caused by years of incoherent and ideologically driven foreign policy from the South African government.

What should have been a moment for skilled diplomacy and strategic engagement has instead become a textbook case in diplomatic failure. Key opportunities to repair and restore trust with US lawmakers and officials were squandered.

Even under the more diplomatic Biden administration, South Africa failed to rebuild trust. We did not use the opportunity to engage, negotiate, or reassure. And now, under a more transactional Trump presidency, patience has run out.

What is clear is that South Africa urgently needs a foreign policy rooted in clear principles and strategic interests instead of nostalgia and ideology.

Our diplomacy must be led by the state, above party politics, and laser-focused on three core objectives: expanding trade and economic growth, defending human rights, and advancing democracy on the continent and beyond. The current bipolar approach, with mixed signals from different actors, is unsustainable and deeply damaging.

BOSA calls for five urgent steps to arrest this crisis and rebuild South Africa’s credibility in Washington:

1. Reassert official diplomatic leadership and prevent political freelancing that undermines national trade priorities. South Africa must speak with one credible, united voice.
2. Engage directly with the US Congress, where AGOA’s future will ultimately be decided. The case must be made for the mutual benefits of continued trade cooperation and use the over 500,000 US jobs linked to trade with South Africa as leverage.
3. Present a credible trade and investment plan that highlights the potential of key export sectors and aligns with US strategic interests, especially in green energy and technology.
4. Commission an urgent economic risk assessment to quantify the impact of these tariffs on jobs and industries, and guide responsive, sector-specific relief measures.
5. Appoint a qualified ambassador to Washington who understands the intersection of economics and diplomacy and can lead the high-level engagements needed to restore trust and rebuild lost ground.

South Africa cannot afford more indecision, ideological posturing, or diplomatic negligence. Our future economic growth depends on pragmatic, clear-headed leadership in foreign policy that puts South African jobs front and centre.

Roger Solomons - BOSA Spokesperson