JOHANNESBURG, 03 Oct. - (ANA) - South Africa secured investments from China and India to boost its car manufacturing sector in a bid to salvage one of the industries hardest hit by Washington’s tariffs. 

 

US President Donald Trump imposed 30% levies on South African goods over what he claims are laws that discriminate against white South Africans. 

 

The rates have pummeled the country’s auto sector, with US-bound exports dropping 90% in the second quarter compared to the previous year. 

 

Pretoria warned the sweeping tariffs could cost Africa’s most industrialized economy as many as 100,000 jobs. 

 

Meanwhile, analysts warn that Washington’s levies, as well as the expiry this week of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) — a preferential trade pact between the US and dozens of sub-Saharan African countries — will push the continent even closer to Beijing’s sphere of influence.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/03 October 2025  - - -