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South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry warned on Monday that the 30% reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States could threaten tens of thousands of jobs.
“We’ve based this on the ongoing consultations that we have with all the sectors of the economy, from automotive, agriculture and all the other sectors that are going to be impacted,” said Simphiwe Hamilton, Director-General of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
“At this stage we are sitting at approximately 30,000 jobs that could be affected by this, if it were to be mismanaged in any manner,” he said.
On Thursday, just hours before his self-imposed August 1 deadline, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing new tariffs on dozens of countries.
While some nations secured revised rates, South Africa was not among them. Its tariff remained fixed at 30% — one of the highest imposed under the order and placing it among the top five most heavily targeted countries.
The United States is South Africa’s third-largest trading partner, accounting for 7.5% of total exports. China ranks second at 11%, while the European Union tops the list at 17%.
Analysts warn that South Africa’s automotive and agricultural sectors are likely to bear the brunt of the new tariffs. The impact could be severe in a country already battling persistent unemployment, which stood at 32.9% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Statistics South Africa (StatsSA).
In response, the South African government is drafting a support plan for affected exporters. Officials say the national response will be both multilateral and strategic — involving diplomatic engagement with Washington, collaboration with other trade partners, and measures to cushion local businesses.
The tariffs are set to take effect on August 8.
