US war on global trade and industrialisation in SA

Negotiation is necessary but it is more important to help producers find buyers in other countries

15 April 2025 – 05:00

by Neva Makegtla

In its own inimitably erratic fashion, the US administration has declared war on the past 30 years of international trade. SA needs to adapt, and quickly, or risk growing economic and social fallout.

Short-run interventions can help businesses find alternative markets and support the affected workers and their communities through the inevitably rough transition. A thoughtful strategy to deal with the predictable surge in manufactured imports from other countries would also help. In the longer run, the new global realities require a fundamental reconceptualisation of SA’s industrialisation policy.  ..

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