Webinar on impact of US-China Trade War

On Thursday 8 May 2025, the Centre for Africa-China Studies, in partnership with the UJ Library, hosted a webinar titled ‘The likely impact of the US-China Trade War on South Africa’.

Background

The US and China – the world’s two biggest economies, which produce 43 percent of the global GDP – are embroiled in a full-scale trade war. The US tariff rate on Chinese exports stands at 145%, while China’s tariff rate on US imports stands at 125%. Such exorbitant rates render trade bilateral trade between the two countries almost impossible.

The trade war between the two titans will disrupt global supply chains and wukk certainly have a negative impact on global economic growth. Developing regions like Africa are left to ponder what the implications of this trade war will be. Both the US and China are significant trading partners for Africa and South Africa.

As such, this webinar discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by the turn of events in respect of the relationship between the US and China. What impact will this trade war have on Africa? How should Africa position itself to effectively navigate the current situation?

MODERATOR: Prof David Monyae, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Relations, and Director of the CACS

Speakers

Sanusha Naidu, Associate of the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and a senior research fellow of the Institute for Global Dialogue, UNISA

Dr Lumkile Mondi, Lecturer at the Wits Business School and in the School of Economics and Finance at Wits University.