(MENAFN) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken note of U.S. President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose a "unilateral imposition" of a 30 percent tariff on South African imports.

According to a statement from the presidency issued on Tuesday, this move is grounded in a "particular, contested" understanding of the trade balance between the two nations.

The statement emphasized that the 30 percent tariff does not reflect the actual trade statistics available.

It pointed out that the average import tariff is closer to 7.6 percent, with more than half of traded goods—specifically 56 percent —including 77 percent of imports from the United States, entering South Africa without any duty under the “most favored nation tariff.”

Commending the U.S. administration's willingness to reconsider the proposed tariff, depending on the results of current negotiations, the South African government expressed its intention to persist with its diplomatic outreach.

The aim is to achieve “more balanced and mutually beneficial” commercial ties with Washington.

President Trump announced the new tariff measures on Monday, affecting 14 nations.

These included a 25 percent duty on imports from Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Tunisia; 30 percent for South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina; 32 percent for Indonesia; 35 percent for Serbia and Bangladesh; 36 percent for Cambodia and Thailand; and 40 percent on Laos and Myanmar.

In addition, Trump signed a directive to prolong the tariff grace period, initially due to conclude on July 9, now extended to August 1.

President Trump had previously welcomed President Ramaphosa to the White House in May.

The United States remains South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, following China.

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