Pollak after last night’s focus on SA in updated Trump Tariffs: 30% + 10% BRICS surcharge from 1 Aug

South Africa was singled out for special mention by US President Donald Trump in the White House last night when he announced an extension of its ‘reciprocal’ tariffs deadline by three weeks. Trump said SA goods would be hit by a 30% tariff from 1 August. Breitbart senior editor Joel Pollak, whose knowledge of both countries saw him widely tipped to be Trump’s SA ambassador, provides context. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg..Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here.The auditorium doors will open for BNIC#2 on 10 September 2025 in Hermanus. For more information and tickets, click here..Watch here.Listen here.BizNews Reporter .South Africa has been rocked by the announcement of a sweeping new tariff imposed by the United States under former President Donald Trump’s latest trade policy initiative. The country now faces a 30% tariff on its exports to the US beginning 1 August - with a possible additional 10% penalty due to its association with BRICS and what Trump deems as “anti-American policies.”In an interview with Alec Hogg of BizNews, Joel Pollak, senior editor at Breitbart, unpacked the context of this dramatic development and its implications for South Africa’s fragile economy and political stability..Tariffs as a Political Message.Pollak explained that on 7 July, Trump announced increased tariffs on 14 countries that he accused of negotiating in bad faith. South Africa was among them, singled out for both its trade stance and geopolitical alliances - specifically, its ties with BRICS and Iran. Trump signalled that nations aligned with BRICS, which he believes harbour anti-American policies, would face an additional 10% tariff. That would bring South Africa’s total to 40%.This escalation follows a meeting earlier this year between Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa, which, according to Pollak, yielded nothing substantial. “Ramaphosa came without a plan and without compromise,” he noted, contrasting the South African narrative of a diplomatic victory with the American view that the president looked ill-prepared and even foolish..BRICS and Iran: The Diplomatic Misstep.One of the key triggers for the US action appears to be South Africa’s ongoing alignment with Iran - particularly its decision to send a deputy foreign minister to the Iranian embassy in Pretoria to sign a condolence book following recent hostilities in the Middle East. This act, said Pollak, “did not go unnoticed” in Washington and reinforced perceptions of South Africa siding with anti-Western powers.The broader context of the BRICS summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, further aggravated tensions. Despite low attendance from several heavyweight BRICS members - such as China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin - the symbolism of the summit, and South Africa’s continued participation, appears to have sent the wrong message to Washington..Economic Fallout Looms.The impact on South Africa’s already fragile economy could be severe. Key exporters, including motor manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, are reportedly reconsidering their operations in the country. If large volumes of exports to the US become commercially unviable due to tariffs, job losses and capital flight could follow swiftly.Pollak warned that these tariffs might just be the “tough love” South Africa needs to abandon outdated economic policies like Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), which he described as a “lottery mentality” rather than a strategy for broad-based growth..Domestic Political Parallels.The interview also touched on parallels between South Africa and Pollak’s home state of California. In both places, long-dominant political parties are accused of clinging to failed ideologies while their economies and infrastructure deteriorate. “People don’t believe in growth anymore, but they still want wealth,” he said. “The challenge is getting rid of the gambling mentality in favour of real economic development.”With President Ramaphosa overseas and facing increasing domestic pressure - including a possible recall from his own party - the timing of the tariff announcement could not be worse. Hogg highlighted that South Africa’s own political history shows the dangers of leaders prioritising international appearances over domestic crises, referencing Jan Smuts’ 1948 defeat for similar reasons..The DA’s Dilemma.As for South Africa’s official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), Pollak urged clarity and boldness. Having joined the Government of National Unity, the DA now risks being tarred with the same brush as the ANC, especially if economic conditions worsen. He advised the party to “draw clear blue water” between itself and the ANC by exiting the coalition if necessary and reaffirming itself as a genuine alternative.Conclusion: A Moment of ReckoningPollak believes that while the tariffs represent a clear rebuke from Washington, they also offer a chance for course correction. “Sometimes it takes a catastrophe to awaken people to the need for change,” he concluded.As South Africa braces for the economic and political consequences of these punitive tariffs, the question remains: will this be the shock that finally triggers real reform - or just another missed opportunity?

Pollak after last night’s focus on SA in updated Trump Tariffs: 30% + 10% BRICS surcharge from 1 Aug

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