The clock is ticking; with just hours left until the potential imposition of a 30% import tariff on SA goods entering the US market.
While the implementation date of this Friday appears to be firm, the SA government is still negotiating on rates and a new trade framework with the US, so we may potentially see further shifts and ongoing uncertainty in the coming months.
Trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau announcement last week of a pre-deal agreement signed with the US offers some hope of a slightly softer landing, though few countries have managed to conclude more favourable deals with Washington, and they have had to put generous terms on the table.
However, as vital as this issue is for our local economy, with our anchor sectors of automotive manufacturing and agriculture expected to be hardest hit, the current focus on the US tariffs obscures much wider global…
