Full Text: Donald Trump Letter To Ramaphosa Threatening 30% Tariffs

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

July 7, 2025

His Excellency
Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa
President of the Republic of South Africa
Pretoria

Dear Mr President,

It is a great honour for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our trading relationship, and the fact that the United States of America has agreed to continue working with South Africa, despite having a significant trade deficit with your great country.

Nevertheless, we have decided to move forward with you, but only with more balanced and fair trade. Therefore, we invite you to participate in the extraordinary economy of the United States, the number one market in the world, by far.

We have had years to discuss our trading relationship with South Africa, and have concluded that we must move away from these long-term and very persistent trade deficits engendered by South Africa’s tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal.

Starting on 1 August 2025, we will charge South Africa a tariff of only 30% on any and all South African products sent into the United States, separate from all sectoral tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade a higher tariff will be subject to that higher tariff. Please understand that the 30% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the trade deficit disparity we have with your country.

As you are aware, there will be no tariff if South Africa, or companies within your country, decide to build or manufacture products within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally and routinely — in other words, in a matter of weeks.

If for any reason you decide to raise your tariffs, then whatever the number you choose to raise them by will be added onto the 30% that we charge. Please understand that these tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of South Africa’s tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers, causing these unsustainable trade deficits against the United States. This deficit is a major threat to our economy and indeed our national security.

We look forward to working with you as your trading partner for many years to come. If you wish to open your heretofore closed trading markets to the United States, and eliminate your tariff and non-tariff policies and trade barriers, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter. These tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your country. You will never be disappointed with the United States of America.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

With best wishes, I am,

Sincerely,

DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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