Reset and rebuild: Inside South Africa’s push for a US trade deal

Enoch Godongwana

Cape Town – Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says progress has been made in repairing ties with the US and securing a potential trade deal, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s tense meeting with Donald Trump.

The closed-door talks in Washington included South African ministers and business leaders and aimed to improve trade and investment relations, which had been strained by US criticisms of South Africa’s foreign policies, particularly its stance on Israel.

Trump repeated false claims about White genocide and land seizures in South Africa, but the meeting helped reset diplomatic relations, according to Godongwana.

“My reading of what has happened behind the scenes is that it was a positive meeting, and therefore in that context, I think there was a reset of the relationship,” Daily Investor quoted the minister as saying.

“Even if it’s not a final deal, there has been some progress, and over time, we are likely to see the conclusion of a deal.”

Meanwhile, the presidency said in a statement on Thursday that Ramaphosa agreed at talks in Washington to boost bilateral trade and investment.

The preisdent’s visit to the United States to address tensions between the two nations had been “successful”, it said.

Both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral trade ties, increase investments for mutual benefit and forge collaboration in technological exchanges,” the statement said.

The closed White House talks on Wednesday were preceded by a tense meeting, broadcast live, where Trump ambushed Ramaphosa by playing a video that he claimed proved genocide is being committed against white people in South Africa.

The video, which contained several falsehoods and inaccuracies, was intended to back Trump’s offer of “refuge” to persecuted white farmers, which has angered the South African government which disputes the allegations.

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