JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Trade talks between South Africa and the United States are at an advanced stage, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Thursday, as the country seeks relief from the 30 percent tariffs Washington imposed on its products in early August.
As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this month in New York, he is expected to engage with several of his counterparts as well as leaders of major businesses.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau are set to travel ahead of Ramaphosa to participate in the import trade talks, Ntshavheni said at a media briefing in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital.
"The other ministers in the delegation will report their engagements during their UNGA stay," Ntshavheni said. "We are negotiating. We can exchange proposals and counter-proposals, which shows that we have a good rapport with each other."
South Africa has recently submitted a revised proposal to the United States, seeking relief from the 30 percent import tariffs. If left in place, the tariffs are expected to deal a severe blow to the country's agricultural exports, especially citrus, grapes, wine, nuts, apricot juice, and pears, while the automotive industry also faces significant risks. ■
