Economic and trade experts on Thursday warned of the widespread impact of the 30 percent tariffs imposed on South African exports by the Trump administration, cautioning that multiple economic sectors would be affected.

JOHANNESBURG, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Economic and trade experts on Thursday warned of the widespread impact of the 30 percent tariffs imposed on South African exports by the Trump administration, cautioning that multiple economic sectors would be affected.

They urged South Africa to diversify its export markets, particularly within the BRICS bloc. "We have to diversify, move towards BRICS nations, and restructure our economy urgently," economist Duma Gqubule told Xinhua in a telephone interview.

The call for diversification was echoed by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, who highlighted the growing prevalence of neo-mercantilism trade policies in global markets.

Speaking at an investment conference in Johannesburg, Tau warned that "uncertainty caused by unilateral trade tariffs, which undermine WTO rules," would have "significant implications" for South Africa's economy. "Diversifying trade relations is absolutely critical," he stressed.

With the agricultural, automotive, and manufacturing sectors expected to be the hardest hit, analysts also noted that the tariffs effectively signaled the end of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the 2002 trade pact that granted duty-free access to U.S. markets for South Africa and other African economies.

"We must accept that this is effectively the end of AGOA," Gqubule noted. "AGOA ended last night. If it were still in place, these tariffs would not have been imposed on South Africa. That is the reality we must live with," he added.

Matthew Parks, parliamentary coordinator for the Congress of South African Trade Unions, also warned of the tariffs' severe consequences for businesses and workers. "If these tariffs are implemented, that would mean the end of AGOA," he said.

"A 50 percent tariff increase would make exports unsustainable, forcing businesses to seek alternative markets. However, a trade war would be detrimental, not only for Africa but also for countries like China, Brazil, and India. If other countries respond with retaliatory tariffs, we could end up in a damaging economic standoff," he emphasized.

Reacting to Trump's tariff announcement, independent economic analyst Bonke Dumisa said the move was unsurprising, noting that South Africa was being specifically targeted. While the government has raised concerns and plans to engage with Washington, Dumisa argued that Pretoria has little leverage to change Trump's stance.

Dumisa pointed out that the tariffs largely target vehicles and vehicle parts, complicating the situation since some cars manufactured in South Africa and exported to the United States are American brands. "These cars are built here because it makes economic sense," he said.

Parks added that the automotive industry would be particularly hard-hit, as about 37 percent of South Africa's vehicle exports go to the United States. The impact would also be felt in agriculture, which sends 70 percent of its exports to the United States, along with chemicals, jewelry, and other goods.

He urged affected countries to use the World Trade Organization to address trade disputes rather than resort to tit-for-tat measures.