President Cyril Ramaphosa has said Pretoria is pursuing measures to reduce dependence on traditional markets amid “potentially high” US tariffs

South Africa remains committed to advancing national interest through strategic economic diplomacy and principled engagement on the global stage amid tariff pressures from US and global trade disruptions, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said.

In his weekly letter to the nation on Monday, he highlighted the country’s participation in the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Japan, describing it as a key platform for strengthening bilateral trade and investment with Japanese partners.

”Japan is an important trading partner for South Africa in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, technology and agriculture,” Ramaphosa said, highlighting discussions held at the TICAD9 business forum on potential collaboration in clean and renewable energy, automotive components, and hydrogen production.

He singled out Isuzu Motors’ plans to expand its South African operations into a manufacturing hub for the African market as a promising development.

Against a backdrop of global trade disruptions and rising tariffs, Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa’s economic diplomacy is central to securing market access, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable development.

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"At a time when our country faces potentially high tariffs imposed by the US administration, we are continuing to put in place measures that reduce our dependence on historical markets. South Africa continues to advocate for an international trade regime that is fair, equitable and rules-based. We are seeking a trade regime that does not render developing economies vulnerable to unilateral measures or protectionist pressures."

Ramaphosa also highlighted the importance of diversifying trade partners to reduce reliance on traditional markets, particularly amid potential high tariffs from the United States. ”Economic diplomacy is an important part of our country’s foreign policy, and has become all the more critical at a time of economic headwinds and global power shifts,” Ramaphosa said.

He stressed that South Africa’s approach to international engagement is strategic, principled, and independent: “We face neither East nor West, we face forward, South Africa will continue to engage with partners in both the Global North and Global South. Our approach is neither partisan nor beholden, but strategic“.

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South Africa’s foreign policy outlook is not determined by pressure exerted by outside forces, but by principle, he said. Ramaphosa also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to multilateralism, respect for sovereignty, and the pursuit of a just and equitable world order.

He cited the country’s principled support for the Palestinian people in their quest for statehood and for the peoples of Western Sahara in their struggle for self-determination, noting that these positions are guided by principle rather than external pressure.

Ramaphosa highlighted South Africa’s longstanding role as a continental and international peacebuilder. The country has contributed to peace processes in Lesotho, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia’s Tigray region, and across the Great Lakes, as well as deploying peacekeepers to some of the continent’s most troubled regions, including Burundi, Darfur, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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He also noted South Africa’s efforts in mediating the Russia-Ukraine conflict, including joining a 2023 African leaders’ peace mission and continuing engagements with both Russia and Ukraine. ”This past weekend I had calls with several European leaders on the latest peace effort,” he said.

“Our foreign policy outlook is not determined by pressure exerted by outside forces, but by principle,” Ramaphosa said. ”As we continue to engage constructively with the international community, we have been consistent that this should always be on the basis of mutual respect.”

Through these efforts, he said South Africa seeks to advance both its national interests and its constitutional values, reflecting the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Charter, while promoting peace, social justice, and human rights.

First published by IOL

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