Ramaphosa sees ‘silver lining’ in US tariffs as SA targets new trade markets

President Cyril Ramaphosa has struck a defiant yet optimistic tone in response to US trade tariffs imposed on South Africa, calling them an unexpected opportunity to open new markets and deepen economic ties with alternative global partners.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of his working visit to Yokohama, Japan on Sunday, Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa was undeterred by the recent protectionist measures announced by US President Donald Trump.

The tariffs, which target South African steel (25%), aluminum (10%), and certain agricultural exports including citrus and wine (ranging between 15% to 35%), have sparked concern among exporters and economists.

But Ramaphosa says they will not derail South Africa's global ambitions.

“We are also preparing ourselves to open new markets in the light of the tariffs that have been imposed by the US,” Ramaphosa said.

“We felt that this was an opportunity - sometimes out of chaos comes opportunity. We are now capitalising on that opportunity that opens up.”

The President characterised the punitive tariffs not as a setback but as a "silver lining" that could accelerate South Africa's pivot towards untapped and emerging markets.

During his visit to Japan, Ramaphosa met with top executives of major Japanese corporations, many of whom have longstanding investments in South Africa.

He said the engagements reflected growing investor confidence in South Africa as both a domestic growth hub and a strategic gateway into the rest of Africa.

“They see South Africa as a gateway into the rest of the continent and want to utilise the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), using South Africa as a springboard to capitalise and expand their operations across the continent,” he said.

Ramaphosa also highlighted the government's focus on key economic recovery pillars, including energy stability, infrastructure upgrades, and policy certainty - all aimed at making South Africa a more attractive destination for global investors.

"We reiterated the fact that we are not only a gateway into the continent, but we are an economy that is growing, an economy that is in recovery," he said.

While the tariffs from Washington may be intended to exert economic pressure,Ramaphosa made it clear that South Africa was turning outward with purpose - to diversify its trade partners and tap into demand for its products across several nations.

“As they say in the classics, every cloud has a silver lining… We are focusing on the silver lining and seeing how best we can begin to open those markets,” Ramaphosa said.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics