South Africa Submits Revised Trade Proposal To U.S.

South Africa is rushing to submit an “enhanced” trade proposal in a last-ditch effort to avert a 30% tariff set to take effect on Friday, Trade Minister Parks Tau announced on Thursday.

Proposal was being prepared at the request of U.S. officials, following months of silence from Washington after South Africa’s initial submission in May and a subsequent revision in June.

“We’re having to navigate a last-minute, strengthened version of the proposal we originally submitted,” Tau said. “And to be honest, it’s a matter of waiting to see what happens.”

With the August 1 deadline fast approaching, concerns are mounting in South Africa. The country’s central bank governor has warned that the punitive tariffs could endanger up to 100,000 jobs, particularly within the agriculture and automotive sectors.

The United States is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China. Key South African exports to the U.S. include vehicles, manufactured goods, citrus fruits, and wine.

Tau confirmed that discussions took place on Wednesday night with U.S. officials, both at the embassy in Pretoria and at the level of the U.S. Trade Representative. However, the situation remains uncertain.

“They’ve indicated that they would encourage us to resubmit, potentially with an enhanced proposal,” Tau said.

Efforts to secure a new agreement have reportedly been hampered by U.S. concerns over South Africa’s domestic affirmative action measures. A senior South African diplomat said on Tuesday that Washington’s stance on Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies has posed a significant obstacle in the negotiations.

Tensions have also been heightened by South Africa’s legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice, a move strongly opposed by both Israel and the United States.