Johannesburg – Despite recent disagreements surrounding the G20 summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa anticipates continued trade negotiations with the United States. The summit, which concluded Sunday, saw South African President Cyril Ramaphosa symbolically pass the G20 presidency to the United States, albeit in the absence of a US official to receive it.
South African Trade Minister, Parks Tau, expressed optimism regarding ongoing discussions about a potential trade agreement addressing tariffs. Speaking to reporters at the summit, Tau stated, “We have categorized these issues, and we said that the G20 is a separate process… and we expect that the trade discussions will continue.” This statement comes after the previous imposition of tariffs on South African imports by the United States.
The G20 summit in South Africa adopted a declaration addressing climate change and other global challenges. However, the United States, absent from the summit, voiced objections to the declaration. South Africa stood firm, refusing to renegotiate the final statement, which was finalized without US input. A presidential spokesperson emphasized the extensive work that went into the declaration’s adoption.
Following the summit, tensions arose, with the White House accusing South Africa of hindering a smooth transition of the G20 presidency. This accusation followed initial statements suggesting the presidency would be handed to an “empty chair” due to the US boycott. South Africa also reportedly rejected an offer from the United States to have the US Chargé d’Affaires receive the G20 presidency, deeming it a breach of protocol. Despite these diplomatic hurdles, South Africa remains committed to pursuing trade negotiations with the United States. The focus will now be on navigating the complexities of the trade relationship while addressing the lingering disagreements from the G20 summit.
