South Africa is working on ways to mitigate job losses from US tariffs

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa is working on ways to mitigate job losses caused by steep U.S. tariffs and is considering exempting exporters from some competition rules to support them, its trade and foreign ministers said on Monday.

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South Africa faces a 30% US tariff, risking tens of thousands of job losses after missing a trade deal deadline.
Officials plan support measures like unemployment aid and exemptions from competition rules for exporters.
South Africa argues it poses no threat to US trade or security and highlights the complementary trade relationship.

Africa's biggest economy faces a 30% tariff on its exports to the U.S. starting this week, a move expected to cost tens of thousands of jobs after it failed to secure a trade deal before a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump last Thursday issued an executive order imposing higher import duties on dozens of countries that are set to take effect in seven days as part of his push to reshape global trade in favour of the United States.

"South Africa poses no trade threat to the U.S. economy nor its national security," the trade and foreign ministers said in a joint statement.

"The calculation of U.S.-SA 'trade deficit' ignores the substantial U.S. trade surplus in services, as well as the complementary nature of the bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries."

Measures to cushion the impact of job losses could involve the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the government statement said.

The statement said a "block exemption" from competition rules was being developed to enable collaboration and coordination by competitors.