US expels South Africa’s ambassador and tightens visa restrictions as Ramaphosa warns of devastating job losses from trade deal loss

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the nation to get ready for a potential loss of duty-free trade access to the U.S. amid growing diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

I need, as president, to prepare us if it ever happens.

Bilateral ties have deteriorated significantly since President Trump took office, with Washington cutting aid, expelling South Africa’s ambassador, and berating Ramaphosa in the Oval Office over discredited claims of a “white genocide.”

In mid-September, Washington announced new visa restrictions targeting South Africans who promote “race-based discrimination, incite violence, or enable land confiscation without compensation.” These issues remain highly disputed between the two governments.

The potential loss of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) benefits poses a severe threat to the South African economy. Within the framework of AGOA, Washington currently exempts South African cars from customs duties. After precious metals, automobiles represent the country’s second-biggest export earner to the United States.

According to the automobile employers’ organisation Naamsa, 86,000 jobs were directly tied to the accord at car manufacturers in 2025, a figure that rises to 125,000 when including subcontractors. President Ramaphosa has warned that the impact of losing these trade benefits would be “devastating” for the nation’s employment sector.