Nations in Africa are confident that deals can be reached with the U.S. government to avoid higher tariffs on Aug. 1.
JOHANNESBURG—African countries targeted in President Donald Trump’s latest effort to gain better economic deals for the United States say they have a lot to offer the world’s largest economy but that they need more time to negotiate new trade agreements with Washington.
The U.S. leader sent almost identical letters to 21 countries on July 7 and July 9 using his Truth Social platform, saying higher tariffs on their exports to the United States will begin on Aug. 1, unless they “move things along.”
He singled out South Africa, the continent’s biggest economy and Washington’s largest African trade partner, and three of North Africa’s major economies: oil-rich Libya and Algeria, and Tunisia, a big supplier of olive oil to the United States.
South Africa, Algeria, and Libya will soon pay at least 30 percent on their goods and products entering the United States, said Trump, with Tunisia being charged a levy of 25 percent.
Information provided by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) shows that these countries export a variety of goods to America, including minerals, automobiles, agricultural produce, electronics, and clothing.
They import American machinery, pharmaceuticals, and refined petroleum.
Trump said the countries he listed had offered “far less” than what’s needed to eliminate “Trade Deficit disparities” that his government says disadvantage the United States.
A trade deficit occurs when a nation imports more than it exports.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, in 2024, the United States exported nearly $3.2 trillion in goods and services to the world, while it imported $4.1 trillion, leaving an overall trade deficit of more than $900 billion.
According to Trump, this represents a huge financial loss to the United States.
South Africa’s levy will rise to 40 percent should Trump follow through on a threat to impose an additional 10 percent on countries from the BRICS bloc of emerging economies.
South Africa is a BRICS founding member, along with China and Russia, and supports their vision of a “multipolar” world in which U.S. power and influence are reduced, which has raised Trump’s ire.
