South Africa to press Trump on trade ties during Washington visit
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South African President Ramaphosa heads to Washington to salvage US–South Africa trade ties, as AGOA renewal and tariff threats loom over key sectors and jobs.
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on September 16, 2022 (AFP/Saul Loeb)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to Washington, DC this week for a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump, aiming to stabilize bilateral ties and salvage key trade agreements, according to members of his delegation.
Tensions between Pretoria and Washington have worsened since Trump took office. The visit, scheduled for Wednesday at the White House, is seen as a reset opportunity after months of strained diplomacy, escalating trade disputes, and controversy surrounding South African domestic affairs.
A central objective of the visit, according to Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, will be to preserve South Africa’s access to US markets, particularly through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which offers duty-free entry for selected African exports.
“Preferential trade agreements such as AGOA contribute significantly to our economy. Losing these benefits would be disastrous for farmers, farm workers, and the economy at large,” Steenhuisen said.
AGOA is set to expire in September, and there are fears within Ramaphosa’s cabinet that the Trump administration may allow the agreement to lapse. South African officials are also concerned about the impact of new US import tariffs, announced in April and currently on a 90-day pause, which include a proposed 31% levy on South African goods.
“Protecting jobs, growing the economy, and expanding employment opportunities” will be a priority in the talks, Steenhuisen added, as South Africa battles an unemployment rate of around 32%.
The US remains South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China, and any disruption in trade flows would have wide-ranging consequences for sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and mining.
Diplomatic damage control and political messaging
The Ramaphosa administration will also use the visit to counter inflammatory narratives that have gained traction in US right-wing circles, particularly the conspiracy theory alleging a so-called “white genocide” in South Africa.
“The president will affirm that these claims are patently false,” said presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, referencing Trump's controversial move to welcome Afrikaners to Washington last week.
Fact: Afrikaans speakers/voters, black and white, are split along the following parties. ANC, DA,PA Freedom Front Plus, ACDP and Good Party. With the exception of the ACDP all these parties are part of the Government of National Unity. Stop lying Joel! https://t.co/W70KoueUTf
— Vincent Magwenya 🇿🇦 (@SpokespersonRSA) May 18, 2025
Trump’s administration has previously amplified claims that South Africa’s white minority faces systemic threats, sparking diplomatic backlash and domestic outrage.
Ramaphosa is expected to extend a personal invitation for Trump to attend the G20 summit scheduled for November in Johannesburg, though the US president has publicly threatened to skip the event.
The visit also highlights South Africa’s evolving political landscape following its 2024 elections, which led to the formation of a government of national unity. Steenhuisen, a key figure in the pro-business Democratic Alliance (DA), joined the coalition government and now plays a central role in shaping trade policy.
With AGOA’s renewal on the line and tariff hikes looming, Ramaphosa’s Washington mission reflects both economic urgency and diplomatic brinkmanship, as South Africa tries to avoid becoming collateral damage in Trump’s wider trade wars.
