(Africanews) – South Africa is actively engaging with the Trump administration to strengthen trade relations with the United States, despite recent diplomatic tensions following the expulsion of its ambassador.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stated on Thursday, March 20, 2025, that President Cyril Ramaphosa remains committed to fostering ties with Washington, particularly in trade. “Equally, the president is keen that we look at the opportunity to research the relationship between South Africa and the United States. Particularly on the trade front where there are a lot of opportunities to expand the trade relationship,” Magwenya said.
The South African Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) is spearheading efforts to review the range of tradable goods and identify new opportunities for economic cooperation. “The DTIC is leading a process to look at that basket of tradable goods and look at how we can expand it so that, at an appropriate time, when we begin to have escalated engagements between ourselves and the Trump administration, we are able to also take a more forward-looking approach,” he added.
Diplomatic tensions escalated earlier this week when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, persona non grata. The decision was based on allegations of “race-baiting” and criticism of President Donald Trump. Rasool was given until Friday to leave the U.S.
This follows Trump’s executive order in February, which cut U.S. funding to South Africa. The order cited “government actions fueling disproportionate violence against racially disfavored landowners.” It specifically referenced Afrikaners, the white minority group descended from Dutch and French colonial settlers.
Despite this setback, Magwenya downplayed the ambassador’s expulsion, emphasizing that diplomatic engagements with the Trump administration remain ongoing at various levels. “The absence of an ambassador in Washington does not mean the absence of engagements with the Trump administration,” he said. He also pointed out that the U.S. has yet to appoint an ambassador to South Africa, but discussions between both governments continue through other diplomatic channels.
