South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday that his country has advanced to “text-based” negotiations with Washington towards securing a better tariff deal — and hoped one would materialise “soon”.

The South African government has been seeking to negotiate a better tariff deal with the United States, after US President Donald Trump’s administration hit the country with a 30-percent import tax in August — the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking at a press conference in the Swiss capital Bern, Ramaphosa said the negotiations with Washington were “ongoing”.

“They are now fortunately based on text. And once you get to that level, with any government you are said to have made tremendous progress,” he told reporters.

“We are looking forward to concluding an agreement fai

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