South Africa Signs Trade Deal With China Amid US Tariffs
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
South Africa's trade deal with China delivers crucial duty-free market access and investment opportunities precisely when Trump's punitive tariffs threaten thousands of jobs. The agreement provides a stable economic partnership during a period when Washington has abandoned reliable trade relations, excluded South Africa from the G20, and launched baseless accusations against Pretoria. Diversifying toward China and non-Western markets represents smart economic policy that reduces dangerous over-reliance on an increasingly hostile United States.
Anti-China narrative
China's zero-tariff policy for Africa masks a deepening exploitation that keeps the continent trapped as a raw materials supplier. Despite Beijing's promises, African exports remain concentrated in low-value minerals while imports from China surge faster, creating a $60 billion deficit that widens yearly. The policy won't drive industrialization or structural transformation — it simply reinforces Africa's subordinate position in global supply chains unless paired with genuine capacity building and infrastructure investment.
