The recent US Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump’s 30% “reciprocal” tariffs under the IEEPA might seem like good news for South Africa, but the relief is likely temporary. Trump has already rolled out a new 15% global tariff using different legislation, and has signalled that more targeted measures could follow within months using various trade laws that give the president broad authority to penalise countries he views as unfair trading partners.

South Africa is in a particularly vulnerable position. Its diplomatic alignment with China, Russia and other US adversaries has drawn Washington’s attention, and the US has long complained about South Africa’s restrictions on American poultry and pork imports. The country’s AGOA membership — which grants duty-free access to US markets — also remains uncertain.

The bottom line: South Africa’s government needs to move quickly to engage Washington and clarify where things stand, rather than treating this court ruling as a victory. The tariff threat hasn’t gone away — it’s just shifting to different legal ground.

Source: FRANCOIS BAIRD | Trump tariffs – don’t get your hopes up