Will Ramaphosa's visit to the US improve trade relations?
President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump are set to meet to discuss bilateral trade.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Media
President Cyril Ramaphosa will need to use his skills as a negotiator if he has any chance of resetting the strategic relationship between South Africa and the United States.
Dr Ntokozo Nzimande, senior lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Johannesburg, said while Ramaphosa is a "brilliant negotiator, one can only hope that this meeting will yield a positive outcome".
"The US imposed tariffs not just on South Africa but on all its trading partners. The rationale behind this decision is to reduce the trade deficit between the US and its partners," said Nzimande.
Ramaphosa will embark on a working visit to the United States from Monday until Thursday.
Ramaphosa will meet Trump on Wednesday at the White House, to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest.
The South African president's visit comes a week after nearly 50 Afrikaners South arrived in Washington DC seeking asylum.
This was after Trump signed an executive order in February directing his government to grant refugee status to Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch and French colonisers who he claimed were discriminated against.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Relations between South Africa and the US soured significantly since Trump returned to the White House in January.
Nzimande expressed doubt that the tensions between South Africa and the US would be resolved.
"The Trump administration is fully aware that there's no genocide in South Africa — it's all lies. These lies could be a retaliation from Elon Musk because of Starlink. If this is the case, the only solution would be to allow Starlink to operate in SA, which is a security threat.
"If Elon Musk can use the X platform, particularly Grok, to spread lies and manufacture stories, what assurances do we have that he won't use Starlink against us?" said Nzimande.
Nzimande added that Ramaphosa has negotiated a number of important deals.
"One can hope that he will be able to remind the Trump administration of the same significance of our trade relations," he said.
Trump recently announced additional tariffs on all imported products under what had been termed 'Liberation Day' trade measures.
Goods imported from dozens of countries and territories are to be taxed at sharply higher rates, including 30% for South Africa.
The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) has urged South Africans to not allow divisions that were not helping the country to move forward, following news of the arrival of SA refugees in the US.
"At this time of our history, South Africans of all races and creed should take the opportunity, to unite and work together for the betterment of all our citizens and the republic, united in our diversity.
"Whilst ours is a vibrant democracy, full of vitality, and this should never be discouraged, we should also be conscious of driving negative narratives and messaging," said SACCI in a statement.
It added that it was counterproductive and will damage South Africa's prospects in driving the necessary investment climate, for economic growth, the elimination of poverty and unemployment, to achieve the ultimate objective of shared prosperity.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Confronting racism in our schools
The latest incident of alleged racism at Bryandale Primary School in Bryanston is yet another painful reminder that South African schools still have a long way to go before genuine transformation and inclusion are achieved. It is alleged that an Indian learner told two Black students, 'You stupid Black people are so predictable.' Such language is deeply offensive, dehumanising, and has no place in any learning environment. This incident must be treated with the seriousness it demands, not as a 'playground misunderstanding,' but as a reflection of wider issues of racism and marginalisation that persist in our schools. While many public and private schools proudly promote values of diversity and transformation in their mission statements, these values must go beyond lip service. Transformation is not a passive hope; it requires active, ongoing engagement and institutional introspection. Schools play a critical role in redressing the deep inequalities and marginalisation embedded in our society. They must be proactive in creating safe and affirming environments for all children, not only through symbolic gestures but through deliberate action, anti-racism training, and clear accountability mechanisms. The incident at Bryandale is not isolated. Just two days ago, a Grade 8 learner at De La Salle Holy Cross College was reportedly told, 'You don't belong… go home, you (K-word).' In 2024, Pretoria High School for Girls made headlines after racist WhatsApp messages targeted Black pupils. That same year, Jeppe High School for Girls in Johannesburg came under fire when Black pupils were removed from class for wearing coloured braids, while white pupils with dyed hair faced no repercussions. These are not isolated "bad apples." They reflect systemic failures that schools must urgently address. We call on school governing bodies, education departments, and communities to treat these incidents with the seriousness they deserve. Silence or delay enables racism to fester. We must demand not only awareness but transformation that is measurable, monitored, and real. Because if our schools can't be safe and just spaces for our children, we cannot expect our society to be either. Matthew Cook, GOOD National Chairperson and City of Johannesburg Councillor
Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
LISTEN: The Money Show highlights – Beauty on TApp CEO Mathebe Ngwenya and wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane
On this week's episode of 'The Best Bits of The Money Show', Mathebe Ngwenya shares her remarkable journey of founding Beauty on TApp, highlighting the courage, resilience, and deep passion that fueled her mission. Warren Ingram, financial advisor and Co-Founder of Galileo Capital, discusses the importance of being prepared for unexpected financial emergencies. Stephen interviews inspiring South African wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane. Consumer expert Wendy Knowler explores how technology has revolutionised everyday communication and convenience, and asks whether companies are leaning too heavily on bots and automated responses.
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Celebrating educated young black farmers
Zamayirha Peter | Published 3 hours ago Lizzy Nyathi is a member of the youth network ACTIVATE! Change Drivers who used a seedling donation by the network to plant a business that has grown its fruits and influence in many communities, and as a supplier to many retail stores. Lisima Farming Project employs four permanent staff who work at the farm and four seasonal labourers. Her story may not have drawn the attention of the Oval Office on 21 May; however, her commitment to sustainable farming and developing the next generation of young African farmers is adding to the good South African story of the immeasurable role of agriculture Lizzy Nyathi is a member of the youth network ACTIVATE! Change Drivers who used a seedling donation by the network to plant a business that has grown its fruits and influence in many communities, and as a supplier to many retail stores. An educated black female farmer, she is from Mpumalanga and the director of the Lisima farming project (Lisima Trading and project) that is based in the Bushbuckridge Municipality, in a small village called Welverdiend. Educated and passionate about sustainable farming Lizzy holds a degree in agricultural management from the University of Limpopo. For Lizzy, the idea to farm was born during her years as a student, and it grew its legs when she began to facilitate agricultural programs that focused on plant production and horticulture. Through her friends and family's support, she managed to raise funds to the sum of R50,000 to start crop farming. In 2023, she cleared 1ha (hectare) out of 3 and fenced it and started producing from it and ultimately made her first sale in August 2023 to Lebamba Hoedspruit. Nearly two years later, Lizzy has never looked back and recounts both challenges and opportunities that farming has brought her way. Some of her achievements include being a local crop supplier at Spar, Makhoma, Roots, Boxer, Lebamba, Street vendors, community members and several game lodges. As a small-scale farmer, Lizzy reflects on the challenges of having sufficient resources to meet the demands and make a profit. 'Sometimes our crops get affected when there are seasonal changes, but I kept it up throughout the whole year. With me now supplying the game lodges, I had to consider planting special crops and herbs. I then realised we, as small-scale farmers, incurred so many losses in our production due to an unplanned production system', Nyathi. 'We also tend to have more losses of products like tomatoes because they have a short shelf life. I came up with a way of preserving it for a different function. Now we are happy to say we also produce sun-dried tomatoes, pepper sauce and basil pesto, which we supply to many game lodges, and we also make spices from the herbs we plant on the farm. Some of these dried herbs are used on our processed products', she adds elated. Lizzy's approach to farming has been multifaceted and comprised of dynamic interventions to get to her bottom line. Lisima Farming Project not only focuses on growing crops and livestock but also provides a space to teach the next generation of farmers and gives back to the communities that support the business through their social investment project. 'Some of our products are allocated to those in need. We go into households that are without food, and schools that cater for minor kids, such as creches, and we have a program in the community that annually gives Christmas hampers to the needy households on Christmas Day', Nyathi. For Lizzy, farming does not begin and end with what you plant, but with your impact at the community level. 'As a business, we comply with the South African Good Agricultural Practices (SAGAP) standard, and we are HACCP (Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point) certified', Nyathi. 'For us, farming is not just about production, but we also ensure that we produce food that is healthy to consume, we minimise the use of agrochemicals, and in any way possible, we avoid them altogether', she adds. Now, Lisima Farming Project employs four permanent staff who work at the farm and four seasonal labourers. 'From May 2025, they were entrusted by WILD IMPACT to host two of their interns for practical training. Last year, we received a grant from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to the value of R50 000, and they helped me get a website and paid the subscription for the whole year of 2025. 'We used the NYDA grant to fence the other 2ha (hectare) and buy some water reservoirs. The remaining 2ha is not yet in production because we only have 1 borehole, which cannot cater for the other 2ha. We are planning on planting and producing on the other 2ha (hectare) as soon as we get the second borehole, because the demand for fresh produce is higher than our capacity now'. Lisima Farming Project is a testament to a good South African story when a village comes together (businesses, family, government), to support one young person, who comes from a marginalised community, has a will to study, a passion for sustainable farming and a commitment to mix profits with meaningful impact at the community level. To support the Lisima Farming Project, you can get in touch via their website on or give them a call on 013 880 2246. Zamayirha Peter is an Advocacy Communications Specialist with over eight (8) years of experience in multimedia journalism and communications. Her passion is using development communications to contribute to the advancement and empowerment of communities, particularly the youth, across the continent and influence global conversations through using strategic communication tools.
