section_path: Trade conflicts by country/Africa/South Africa
section_name: South Africa
paragraph_text: South Africa
  
  After Trump announced a 25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum, major exporters in South Africa were palpable by the onset tariffs, leading the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) condemning the U.S. tariff hike and warning of negative impacts on local manufacturing, as well as calling on the South African government to take immediate action.
  
  Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs of 31% on South Africa on April 2, 2025. This move, according to the government of South Africa, effectively nullified the benefits African countries enjoy under U.S. trade initiative the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). On April 4, 2025, South Africa's government announced that it would not retaliate and would instead negotiate exemptions.
  
  After the reciprocal tariffs were announced, Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau stated that South Africa would start planning to diversify its export markets, targeting regions in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and within Africa. Another immediate consequence was the postponing of the sale of gems from Petra Diamonds ' Cullinan Mine, due to uncertainty caused by the tariffs.