Cyril Ramaphosa used a two-day state visit to Brazil to deepen economic ties and position South Africa as a gateway for Brazilian companies seeking opportunities across African markets. Speaking with business leaders, Ramaphosa called for expanding a trade pact between southern African nations and a Latin American bloc—comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The push comes as both countries navigate economic uncertainty fueled by tariffs introduced by Donald Trump and rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. For Pretoria, stronger partnerships with Latin America could help diversify trade and cushion potential shocks to its economy, especially as global political and economic pressures intensify.
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