Politics and Trade Collide as Trump Upends Ties: Next Africa

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President Cyril Ramaphosa is scrambling to contain the fallout from the 30% tariffs the US has imposed on South African imports, the highest levied on goods from any sub-Saharan African nation.

Pretoria’s initial proposals aimed at securing more favorable trade terms were rebuffed. Washington has yet to respond to a revised offer that includes pledges to buy gas from America and improve market access for its farmers.

Workers harvest fruit at the ALG Estates citrus farm in Citrusdal, South Africa.

Photographer: Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg

US leader Donald Trump, in his repeated attacks on South ...