Washington’s inside track - what US Government really wants, and how SA can turn defeat into victory

California-based Saffer Anthony Ginsberg, who has been in the US for a quarter century, met with political movers and shakers in Washington to understand what Pretoria must do to avoid the massive job losses that would accompany a proposed 30% Trump Tariff to be implemented in two months. The successful financial services entrepreneur explains it starts with appreciating the radical mindset change in Washington: Capitol Hill is now all about structurally transforming the US’s economic path. To do this it has adopted a commercial-first mindset and a determination to reverse China’s soft wins which is has enjoyed for decades. He says countries which appreciate deal-making is the US’s new diplomacy, have sent A-Teams to Washington, eschewing politicians for business-heavy, highly educated and globally-sussed patriots. He points to the example of Tanzania’s Ambassador, former WEF Africa head Elsie Kanza, as one of those “running rings around” her counterparts and wracking up big gains for her country. Ginsberg 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..Watch here.Listen here.BizNews Reporter.South Africa’s lucrative trade relationship with the United States faces a serious threat from a new sanctions bill gaining traction in Washington, according to Anthony Ginsberg of GinsGlobal. Speaking to BizNews after returning from high-level meetings in the US capital, Ginsberg warned that the so-called Jackson bill, named after former Trump White House physician-turned-congressman Ronny Jackson, could severely damage South African exports if passed.The proposed legislation, introduced in the US House of Representatives, reflects growing negative sentiment towards South Africa amid perceptions it is aligning more with China and the Middle East than with traditional Western allies. “There’s a lot of misunderstanding about South Africa,” Ginsberg said, noting the bill’s progress underscores Washington’s increasingly critical view of Pretoria’s foreign policy.At stake is South Africa’s continued participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a US trade initiative that provides duty-free access to American markets. Losing AGOA could jeopardise up to half a million South African jobs in sectors ranging from automotive manufacturing to citrus farming, Ginsberg warned. If tariffs revert to standard rates, potentially as high as 31%, the economic fallout could be severe.South Africa, Ginsberg noted, is currently the largest US trading partner in Africa and enjoys a trade surplus under AGOA. Ironically, this surplus has placed the country in Washington’s crosshairs. “Everything is being viewed through a Chinese lens,” he explained. “The US is trying to break its dependence on China, and countries seen as friendly to China are being penalised.”Despite this, Ginsberg believes South Africa has a window of opportunity, about 60 days, to reset its relationship with the US before key decisions are made. He urged the Government of National Unity to send a high-level commercial delegation, including respected business leaders like Adrian Gore and Trevor Manuel, to engage directly with decision-makers in Washington.“The White House is now a commercial hub,” he said. “If we send the right people, people who understand how to negotiate and execute deals, we can still strike an agreement.”He contrasted South Africa’s current diplomatic vacuum with Tanzania’s proactive ambassador to the US, Elsie Kanza, who has doubled her country’s trade with the US by forging city-to-city partnerships and launching East African trade chambers.Ginsberg warned that if South Africa fails to act swiftly and decisively, it risks not only losing AGOA benefits but also being left behind as other African nations secure favourable bilateral agreements with the US. “We’ve got the talent. We’ve got the leverage. What we don’t have is a coordinated, commercial response,” he said.

Washington’s inside track - what US Government really wants, and how SA can turn defeat into victory

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