Trade union Solidarity, in a media release, says it is prepared to be part of a South African task team that would be able to urgently intervene to broker a trade agreement with the US before the 30% tariff on South African products exported to the US comes into effect from August 1.

In a letter to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, Solidarity proposes that a task team comprising stakeholders other than politicians be appointed urgently to negotiate with the US.

“South Africa has a very short window to try and avert severe economic damage; however, swift and decisive action will be needed. Solidarity urges you to handle the matter of brokering a trade deal with the utmost urgency.

"However, it is clear that the African National Congress-led government alone is not capable of successfully brokering a trade deal with the United States of America,” Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann writes to Tau.

The trade union expresses that just over two weeks are left before the US imposes the import tariff on South Africa following months during which it says politicians in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government “have failed in critical negotiations”.

“Unless an urgent intervention is provided, South Africa will pay a heavy price, especially in the agricultural and vehicle manufacturing sectors,” it warns.

Solidarity says up to 275 000 South Africans could lose their jobs unless action, characterised by wisdom and urgency, is taken immediately.