South African President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to discuss business opportunities for Elon Musk’s companies during a visit to Washington this week aimed at mending relations with U.S. President Donald Trump.
The two heads of state are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, and South African officials have been preparing a trade proposal to present to Trump to reset the relationship.
One potential proposal would be for Tesla, led by Musk, a close ally and adviser to Trump, to receive favorable tariffs on its imports into South Africa in exchange for building electric vehicle charging stations.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, VincentW Magwenya, confirmed that this could be one of the points discussed.
The South African president will also discuss licensing for Musk’s satellite company, Starlink, which would provide internet connectivity to many rural and underserved areas in South Africa.
Additionally, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen aims to secure trade benefits for South African farmers, whose products currently enjoy duty-free access to the U.S. market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
