US risks losing economic influence in SA

WHEN President Cyril Ramaphosa attends G20 gatherings, South Africa finds itself courted by the world’s biggest economies.

- NYANISO QWESHA

The European Union arrives with climate finance and green energy deals. China brings infrastructure loans, factories, and political theatre. India, Japan, and South Korea pitch technology partnerships and industrial cooperation.

Yet one voice, the one that once dominated the global stage now sounds faint in comparison: the US. As Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted in a recent address: “Africa should be among our largest trading partners and yet, it isn't”

Washington is not absent in absolute terms. The US remains one of South Africa's largest trading partners, with two-way trade exceeding $26 billion in 2024. But in relative terms, its presence feels diminished. Where China and Europe show up with visible investments and long-term projects, America too often arrives with tariffs, conditionalities, or cautious diplomacy. This cautious approach has been met with frustration. As South African Deputy Trade Minister Zuko Godlimpi recently underscored, Pretoria is now “focusing on Chinese investments in manufacturing, services, energy transition and...” to fill the gap.