South African trade union Solidarity has asked the White House to have President Donald Trump sign an executive order granting tariff relief to key South African export sectors.

The union says the order could be implemented quickly by using existing African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) product codes, avoiding new administrative work. The union has pressed Trump particularly to grant relief to the automotive, agriculture, textiles, metals, engineering, and mining sectors.

The Common Sense has reported for the past month that the United States (US) and South Africa were nearing a tariff deal. The lobbying of non-state actors on both sides has been very influential in closing the divide between Pretoria and Washington following what has been described as foot-dragging and lethargy on the part of South African government delegations.

According to Solidarity, their pitch to Trump: "follows on President Trump’s recent willingness to offer the same kind of relief to other countries. Among other things, he signed an executive order at the beginning of September in terms of which import tariffs on Japanese cars were reduced from 27.5% to 15%. Solidarity asked the White House for a similar order to reduce tariffs on some South African exports to 15%, which would still make them competitive with products from other countries."

South Africa’s foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, strongly condemned Solidarity’s lobbying of Trump for tariff relief, accusing the union of undermining the government.

In response, Solidarity’s CEO, Dirk Herman, said: "Solidarity is now in the United States. Not because we particularly want to be there, but because the South African government’s reckless domestic and foreign policies are costing hundreds of thousands of jobs…Almost every South African grows poorer each year, and this government is to blame…It is the African National Congress (ANC)-led government that has alienated the country’s most important trading partner. It is you who are putting R160 billion worth of exports and over 500 000 jobs at risk because you cannot secure a favourable trade agreement with the US…We do not like the ANC, but we love our country. That is why we are in the US, we stand up for our members, for everyone who works, and for South Africa."

Solidarity argues that fast, targeted tariff relief would protect South African jobs and steady bilateral trade while formal negotiations continue. The union says AGOA’s tariff-line mapping makes such an order "easily implemented" and has begun public and media outreach to press the case.