News24 | PODCAST | The Lead: Deal or no deal? Ramaphosa ready for Trump

The Ramaphosa presidency and the Trump administration will meet this week to possibly thrash out a new trade deal amid strained diplomatic relations.

Can they strike a deal? This is perhaps the big question on the lips of geopolitical and economic analysts as President Cyril Ramaphosa and US counterpart Donald Trump meet in Washington, DC, this week.

Some South African products, like citrus and car parts, enjoyed duty-free access to the US market until the Trump administration implemented an unprecedented tariff regime. The meeting comes amid an unprecedented push to lure more South African farmers to the US under the guise of a controversial so-called “refugee” programme.

While the local chicken sector won’t be hard hit by the possible exclusion of South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), even poultry giant Astral says it’s concerned.

News24’s Nick Wilson has the story: “The fear is more the wider fallout, and that’s on citrus. It ultimately affects the SA economy, it affects jobs… and you’re not going to have money for poultry and other SA products.” You can read Wilson’s full story here. 

Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer relays figures revealing that more South Africans are seeking asylum abroad than one would think. And finally, rising Varsity Cup rugby star Ntokozo Makhaza gets a shock phone call from coach Rassie Erasmus.

Mail your comments and voice notes to thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

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