# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the United States’ decision to impose a 30-percent tariff on South African imports highlights the urgency to adapt to increasingly turbulent headwinds in international trade. The tariff hike threatens export capacity in strategic sectors, including automotive and agroprocessing. In his weekly newsletter, the president emphasised that the country’s exports do not compete with American producers nor pose a threat to US industry. Ramaphosa says government has been engaging the US to enhance mutually beneficial trade, adding that the foremost priority is protecting export industries.
Ramaphosa says all channels of communication remain open to engage with the US on trade