South African foreign policy will see cosmetic changes

Subject

South African foreign policy.

Significance

President Cyril Ramaphosa has focused largely on domestic issues in his first six months in office. However, a push for new foreign direct investment of 100 billion dollars over five years, coupled with the securing of a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council from 2019-20, have raised hopes of a fresh foreign policy approach across several fronts.

Impacts

• Despite Ramaphosa's reassurances, radical land reform proposals could undermine attempts to improve the wider investment climate.
• New US tariffs on steel, aluminium and possibly automobiles could offset advantages from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
• Confidence-building economic measures will be necessary to stem the large sale of government bonds by foreigners.