Call for SA to diversify its markets

APARTHEID’S last president FW de Klerk’s foundation has added its voice in calling for South Africa to stop being overly reliant on the US and look elsewhere for trade deals amid concerns over US President Donald Trump's 30% tariffs on exports.

- BONGANI HANS

In what could be seen as the country’s population banding together against the economic squeezing tariffs, the foundation echoed DA leader John Steenhuisen’s call for the country to spread its wings wider, looking for alternative markets across the world.

Steenhuisen, in his capacity as Agriculture minister, said recently that the country was strengthening its trade alliances with countries such as Chile, Peru and New Zealand “to jointly lobby for fair and stable trade treatment of fresh produce” through the Southern Hemisphere Association of Fresh Fruit Exporters.

He said the state had finalised new phytosanitary protocols for the export of avocados to China, table grapes to Vietnam and the Philippines, and maize to India.

FW de Klerk Foundation’s Ismail Joosub called for the strengthening of trading ties “with our Brics partners and Africa”. The foundation was concerned about the South African Reserve Bank warning that the tariffs could cost the country around 100 000 jobs, “hitting our agriculture and automotive sectors the hardest”.

South Africa is a member of Brics, which the US has seen as a threat to its global economic and political dominance.

“China’s vast market, for instance, can buy more of our minerals, wine and fruits.

“India, Brazil, and others present growing export destinations if we proactively pursue them,” Joosub said in a statement.