South Africa is cautiously optimistic about trade negotiations with the U.S. and has submitted a revised proposal to the U.S.

On September 19, Jin10 reported that one month after Trump imposed a 30% tariff on South African exports, South Africa expressed a cautiously optimistic attitude toward the progress of trade negotiations with the United States. In a statement released on Friday, the South African Department of Trade indicated that after three days of negotiations between the two teams, South African Trade Minister Parks Tau held a “friendly and constructive” meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Greer. Prior to this meeting, South Africa and the U.S. had experienced months of tense relations. The South African government revealed that its trade team had submitted a revised proposal to the Trump administration, which includes “facilitating the sale of chicken and pork by U.S. companies in South Africa,” as well as a “commitment to purchase liquefied natural gas from the U.S.,” among other points. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, the total bilateral trade between South Africa and the U.S. is expected to reach $21.6 billion in 2024, with South Africa achieving a trade surplus of $7.7 billion.