Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, who was part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s delegation to Washington last week, has provided insights into the critical trade discussions held with US President Donald Trump.
In an exclusive interview at Parliament, Steenhuisen confirmed that while no “hard and fast” trade agreements were signed during the visit, significant progress was made in strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
Trade Talks and Avoiding Tariffs
The South African delegation presented a package of potential trade deals to US officials, aiming to demonstrate the country’s commitment to fostering a stronger trade relationship. Steenhuisen noted that the US Trade Representative had provided feedback on areas where South Africa could refine its proposals, paving the way for more formal negotiations later this month.
A key concern for South Africa was the looming threat of a 30% tariff increase on certain exports, set to take effect in July. The minister expressed optimism that the discussions had helped avert this hike, emphasizing the strategic importance of South African goods—such as citrus, table grapes, and wine—to the US market.
“American consumers require access to good quality, well-priced agricultural products, and South Africa is perfectly positioned to meet that demand,” Steenhuisen said.
Addressing Farm Murders and White Genocide
The talks also touched on the contentious issue of rural crime and farm murders in South Africa. When asked whether President Trump still believed in the existence of white genocide in the country, Steenhuisen suggested that the delegation’s discussions had helped clarify the broader reality of crime affecting all racial groups.
“We were very clear that farm attacks impact black, white, coloured, and Indian farmers alike,” he said. “The spotlight on rural safety has given us a new impetus to address this crisis.”
He dismissed suggestions that businessman Johann Rupert had “thrown him under the bus” during discussions on crime statistics, stating that Rupert’s contributions had been “net positive” for the delegation.
Expropriation Without Compensation
On the topic of land expropriation without compensation, Steenhuisen defended the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) legal challenge to the policy, framing it as a normal judicial process in a constitutional democracy.
“This is a sign of a strong democracy—that when people are unhappy with a law, they can seek judicial review,” he said.
A Step Forward, But Challenges Remain
While acknowledging that the Washington meeting was far from easy, Steenhuisen concluded that South Africa had left the discussions in a stronger position than before.
“We’ve achieved large parts of what we wanted,” he said. “The door is now wide open for further negotiations.”
As South Africa prepares for potential trade talks in the coming weeks, the outcomes of these discussions could have far-reaching implications for the country’s agricultural sector and broader economy.