With a 30-percent U.S. tariff on South African exports set to take effect on Friday, the South African government said Monday it would continue engaging with the United States to secure a trade deal that serves both nations' interests.
Speaking at a media conference in Johannesburg, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said that no agreement had yet been reached, despite South Africa submitting its trade framework proposal in May.
The U.S. is South Africa's third-largest trading partner, making up 7.5 percent of total trade, with agricultural exports most vulnerable to the looming tariff.
Lamola warned that the proposed tariff could reduce South Africa's gross domestic product by 0.2 percentage points.
South Africa seeks to conclude deals that promote value addition and industrialization, rather than extractive relations that deprive the country of the ability to benefit from its mineral wealth by mimicking extractive colonial-era trade relations, Lamola said.
"It is not out of cowardice that we have refrained from responding, even under very extreme provocation. We are talking about the livelihoods and jobs of people that are at stake. Our relationship also with the U.S. is remaining very important as a mutually beneficial relationship that must be mutually respectful and beneficial," he said.
He also highlighted South Africa's efforts to diversify its export markets, particularly in agriculture. Local producers have started exporting lemons, avocados, and apples to China following the signing of bilateral protocol agreements. Similar efforts are underway to expand access to markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
South Africa pushes for resolution as US trade tariffs loom
South Africa pushes for resolution as US trade tariffs loom
South Africa pushes for resolution as US trade tariffs loom
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
