Bangladesh, July 1 -- South Africa has formally requested an extension from the United States on a critical tariff deadline as the two countries continue delicate negotiations over trade relations. The move comes in the context of strained diplomatic ties between Pretoria and Washington that have intensified since the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025.

On July 9, a 31% tariff is scheduled to take effect on South African exports to the US markets. This steep increase forms part of a broader set of “reciprocal tariffs” announced by the Trump administration in April. These tariffs were introduced as a countermeasure against what the US government described as unfair trade practices by foreign nations, accusi...