Trump Slaps Heavy Tariffs On South Africa

The United States is turning up the heat on global trade, with President Donald Trump slapping a hefty 30 tariff on South African imports.

Labelling the country among the 'worst offenders', Trump's move is part of a sweeping new trade policy aimed at reshaping economic relationships worldwide, as reported by BusinessTech .

Announcing the decision on Wednesday, 2 April 2025, Trump declared a universal 10 tariff on all imports but singled out a list of nations for even tougher penalties. Among them, South Africa now faces one of the highest tariffs, as the US President pushes forward with his 'America First' agenda.

During a fiery press conference, Trump accused several countries of manipulating trade to their advantage, citing unfair taxes, hidden costs, and lopsided trade surpluses. To illustrate his point, he held up a chart showcasing the new tariff rates imposed on economic powerhouses like China, Japan, and the European Union, alongside South Africa.

He asserted that while some nations had been imposing excessive tariffs on US goods, Washington had been lenient for too long. However, instead of imposing fully reciprocal tariffs, he claimed the US was being 'kind' by setting lower but still significant rates.