South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump held a phone call Wednesday, a day before Washington’s 30% tariffs on the nation’s goods entering the US kicked in.

President Cyril Ramaphosa called President Donald Trump ahead of the US imposition of 30-percent tariffs on South African exports Thursday and the leaders agreed to "further engagements", the government said.

Although the duties introduced by the US president only came into force on Thursday, 7 August, Donald Trump’s bombastic announcement has already had a marked effect on trade balances.