Overview

• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meets U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to focus on trade and investment opportunities, moving away from discussions on health aid restoration.
• The Trump administration previously cut PEPFAR and USAID funding to South Africa, which has significantly impacted HIV testing and treatment programs, particularly for vulnerable groups.
• Ramaphosa is expected to propose trade incentives, including favorable tariffs for Tesla and licensing concessions for Starlink, to encourage U.S. investment in South Africa.
• Trump is likely to demand exemptions for U.S. companies from South Africa's equity ownership laws, which mandate 30% ownership by disadvantaged groups or equivalent contributions to training initiatives.
• Disputed U.S. claims of Afrikaner persecution and genocide, alongside the recent granting of refugee status to 59 white South Africans, remain a contentious point in bilateral relations.