President Cyril Ramaphosa missing in action amid US tariffs
South Africa's silence on how it plans to respond to President Donald Trump's looming tariffs next months is leaving the door wide open for justified criticism that it is less bothered about the impact, says the writer.
Image: Jairus Mmutle / GCIS
IT WOULD take something special for the South African government to get itself out of the US’s 30% tariffs on exported products judging by how the Government of National Unity (GNU) has approached this issue.
Make no mistake, Trump means business and it will take some convincing for his administration to move away from the percentage he has imposed on our produce to the US.
Certainly that will not happen when our government continues to evade questions about the appointment of an ambassador to the US.
The Ramaphosa administration is leaving the door wide open for justified criticism that it is less bothered about the impact the tariffs will have on automotive and agricultural sectors - key industries in the country’s economy.
Other than a July 7 statement contesting the interpretation of the balance of trade between South Africa and the US, South Africans have been kept in the dark about how far the “negotiating teams” have gone insofar as securing a deal is concerned.
This is not to suggest that the Americans should dictate the speed at which we address our own internal issues, far from it. However the lack of direction and certainty presents a worrying picture.
A picture depicting that the government’s house is not in order and no one appears concerned. For example, the role of Mcebisi Jonas, the president’s special envoy to the US, continues to be shrouded in controversy.
If we were to take the DA’s word for it, Jonas is not a welcome guest to the US over his past remarks labelling Trump a racist. Ramaphosa’s continued refusal to come clean on Jonas’ status is not helping the situation.
South Africa has been without an ambassador to the US since Ebrahim Rasool was chased away in March for criticising Trump.
Who are we entrusting with this very important responsibility? Could this nonchalant approach be a sign that the South African government has already accepted that it will not be able to strike a deal with the US? If so, then what is the alternative?
These are crucial questions that will not disappear by avoiding to answer.
Hard to believe that today we are having to dig for answers from a president who promised a government characterised by transparency.