Ramaphosa and Trump to discuss trade relations at G7 Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Canada this weekend. 

The meeting will focus on key issues, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and US-SA tariffs. 

Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump comes after South Africa submitted a revised framework proposal to the US, aiming to expand trade and investment relations between the two countries.

The US imposed tariffs on South African imports in April, with a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs of 30% against South African exports. 

The tariffs were part of a broader set of “liberation day” tariffs imposed by Trump on all US trading partners. 

However, they were later reduced to a base rate of 10%, with the expectation that countries would use the 90 days to propose solutions addressing the US's trade deficit concerns.

Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump will be his second in about three weeks, following their tense encounter at the White House last month. 

During their previous meeting, Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of the US's role in the G20 Summit and invited Trump to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg later this year. 

Trump agreed to attend, and Ramaphosa sees this as a positive development for bilateral relations.

According to sources close to Ramaphosa, the meeting agenda will include discussions on AGOA, providing duty-free access to the US market for some African products. 

The agreement is set to expire in September, and South Africa is eager to see it renewed. 

Ramaphosa will also raise concerns about US-SA tariffs, urging the US not to increase them beyond the current 10% if negotiations on a new trade framework are not concluded by July 9.

The sources further said the meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump was significant, given the current state of US-SA trade relations. 

“The business sector has expressed concerns about the rise of tariffs, and Ramaphosa is under pressure to come up with answers. A successful meeting could help to ease tensions and pave the way for improved trade relations between the two countries,” the source added.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya did not respond to questions as to what to expect at the upcoming meeting.

However, Ramaphosa, while speaking to journalists on Tuesday after he announced the date for the National Dialogue on various issues affecting the country, confirmed that he would be meeting Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Ramaphosa said he was invited by Carney, who holds the presidency of the G7, and would also use the opportunity to talk about the G20 Summit to be hosted by South Africa in November, where Trump will take over the presidency.

“We're going to use it as a platform to begin to consolidate what we want to achieve in November when the leaders' summit takes place here (in Johannesburg),” he said.

Last month, Ramaphosa and his delegation included Minister of Trade and Industry Parks Tau, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola.

His goals for that meeting included resetting US-SA relations and beginning serious engagement with the US on trade and investment.

He emphasised that South Africa did not “go kowtowing” to the White House but rather took the initiative to engage with the US.

“For us, it's important for us as a nation to reposition ourselves in the very turbulent geopolitical architecture or situation that we have,” Ramaphosa said at the time.

Cape Times