South Africa told not to bend the knee to US – expert
An international relations expert says South Africa should avoid compromising its core principles when negotiating with the United States.
South Africa is one of nearly 70 countries that will be slapped with higher export tariffs next week.
A 30% tax on South African products had been expected to come into effect on Friday but was delayed by a week.
The government said it will use the delay to negotiate.
Professor John Stremlau says Trump is without principles and erratic and has it in for South Africa.
" There are discussions going on at the working level on trade issues, but with Donald Trump and the White House, it’s a fool’s errand to try to accommodate him, especially for a country like South Africa, which is a liberal democracy and committed to universal principles. And I think that the, the government would be wise to stick to those principles."
He says he understands that South Africa is facing many challenges but warns that the country should tread carefully.
" All the tea in China is not worth compromising your basic principles, even though poverty, inequality and inequities are extreme in South Africa, but Trump will never be satisfied.
"This is an opportunist and a cruel opportunist and so I don't think South Africa should have anything to do with Donald."
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