South Africa on Friday urged sweeping reforms to the World Trade Organization (WTO) after the United States imposed heavy new tariffs.
Trade Minister Parks Tau said the tariffs, including a 31 percent duty on U.S. imports from South Africa, threaten global trade stability.
“These measures will significantly disrupt trade across the board,” Tau told journalists during a press briefing in Pretoria.
The tariffs also undermine the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants duty-free access to U.S. markets for African nations.
AGOA, a cornerstone of U.S.-Africa trade relations, is set to expire in September and faces uncertainty amid the tariff fallout.
Tau criticized the U.S. for bypassing WTO mechanisms, calling the move a blow to transparency and multilateral cooperation.
He urged the WTO to evolve and enforce fair rules that reflect today’s global trade dynamics and protect developing economies.
As current president of the G20, South Africa seeks to rally global support for a stronger, rule-based trading system.
“The multilateral system must ensure all nations agree on and adhere to a common set of trade rules,” Tau said.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola emphasized that South Africa poses no economic threat to the U.S., given its minor share in U.S. imports.
He warned the tariffs would harm key sectors like agriculture and automotive, with direct consequences for employment and growth.
The government is now demanding clarity from Washington on how the 31 percent tariff rate for South Africa was determined.
Lamola noted the U.S. made up 7.45 percent of South Africa’s exports last year, highlighting the asymmetry in trade relations.
South Africa’s call echoes a growing global concern: that the WTO must be reformed—or risk irrelevance in an increasingly protectionist world.
