Ronald Lamola Says South Africa’s Exports Do Not Pose a Threat to the US Industry
- The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, says South African exports are not in competition with US exports
- He spoke during a special briefing of ministers addressing the implementation of Donald Trump's tariffs
- He said that South Africa's agricultural exports do not replace domestic products, and South Africans weighed in
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Tebogo Mokwena, affiliated with Briefly News, covered local and international relations, political analysis, and interviews in South Africa for Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News during his 10 years of experience.
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PRETORIA, GAUTENG — The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, said on 4 August 2025 that South Africa's exports do not compete with the United States' domestic products.
Lamola was speaking in Tshwane, Gauteng, as part of a delegation of ministers who held a joint ministerial press briefing on the United States of America's tariffs on South Africa. The tariffs are expected to come into effect on 7 August 2025.
Lamola stressed that South Africa's agricultural exports are counter-seasonal and fill in the gaps in the US markets, not replace products in the United States. Lamola said that South African products do not pose threats to the US markets.
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A look at South Africa's relations with the United States
President Cyril Ramaphosa challenged Donald Trump's tariffs and called for more negotiations. Ramaphosa disputed Trump's statements, where he said on 7 July that his relationship with South Africa was far from reciprocal. Ramaphosa said the tariff was based on an interpretation of the balance of trade between the two nations.
Ramaphosa said that he was hopeful of striking a trade deal with the US in the wake of the tariffs, which will be imposed on 7 August. He said the government put a package on the table that would deal with South Africa's trade relations with the United States.
United States Congressman Jonathan Luther Jackson defended South Africa after the United States' House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 on 22 July 2025. Jackson said that the bill was non-diplomatic and coercive.
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What did South Africans say?
Netizens commenting on Facebook shared their views.
Frederick Cochrane said:
"I suppose the US authorities are hoping local producers pick up the slack."
Sothandokyhle Mbaleki Gwele said:
"Trump won't listen to that. Let's just go there and negotiate a deal and get at least 10- 15% of tariff."
Dayaan Mkandawire said:
"How I wish it could cause a threat to the US industry."
Keke JD Maroby said:
"Bending the knee so quickly."
Andries Dre Masopoga said:
"The only way to get a better deal is to withdraw the genocide case against Israel. Then everything will get back to normal."
John Steenhuisen worried about tariffs
In a related article, Briefly News reported that the Democratic Alliance's president, John Steenhuisen, shared his views on the US tariffs. This is because the tariffs Trump imposed on South Africa will be implemented on 7 August.
The party's president said in Parliament that he was concerned about the impact the tariffs would have on the country's economy. He said that there was still time for the government to negotiate a more favourable deal.
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Source: Briefly News
