JOHANNESBURG - South Africa said a reset in bilateral ties between Pretoria and Washington is unavoidable as talks on a trade deal continue, while the window to finalise favourable terms narrows.
The country is among more than 180 countries in the final stretch of negotiations with the United States US ahead of the 1 August deadline to impose higher import tariffs on trade partners.
Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau said South Africa remains committed to a conclusion on the US trade deal tabled during President Cyril Ramaphosas visit to the White House in May.
South Africa has stuck to its decision not to retaliate against the reciprocal tariffs first announced by the US earlier in 2025.
The government also said it has no intention of decoupling from the US.
Tau said negotiations remain the best tool to deal with the issues on the table.
Part of SAs proposal is the exemption of specific sectors from reciprocal tariffs to preserve supply chains, including counter-seasonal agriculture trade and exports from small, micro and medium enterprises SMMEs of less than 1 million per annum.