President Ramaphosa prioritises African trade amid global instability

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is looking at strengthening various trade opportunities on the continent amid the escalating global trade war.

In his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa says South Africa will continue to pursue relationships that serve its national interest, as uncertainty grows over future trade relations with the United States under President Donald Trump

The President says the Southern African Customs Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area can be more effective in deepening trade.

As talks of global trade war intensify, President Ramaphosa says Pretoria will deepen relations with countries and regions with which it has regional and bilateral trade agreements that provide preferential trade terms.

He cites the Southern African Customs Union and the SADC Free Trade Area. The President says government is working to make effective use of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

He says last year, a shipment of ‘Made in SA’ consumer goods, electrical and pharmaceutical goods, and fresh produce, among others, left the port of Durban for markets elsewhere on the continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Ramaphosa says the country will continue to advocate for a level playing field in global trade. He adds that the government has recently endorsed the reform process underway within the World Trade Organisation that seeks to address deficiencies in the global trade regime that work against developing economies.

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