'Cooperation Should Not Be Blind': Expert on New SA Tariffs on Imported Vehicles From India and China
20:08 29.01.2026 (Updated: 20:24 29.01.2026)
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'Cooperation Should Not Be Blind': Expert on New SA Tariffs on Imported Vehicles From India and China
It's possible to balance national interests with those of the alliance—in this case, the BRICS alliance, Tendai Mbanje, Regional Governance Expert from South Africa told Sputnik Africa.
South Africa's automotive industry might face collapse risks without protection, driving tariff proposals on vehicle imports as domestic policy, he stressed.
"There should be some form of tariffs to be imposed so that it can benefit ordinary South African who rely on jobs and other skills," Mbanje emphasized.
South Africa, as part of the alliance, he added, has to consistently negotiate terms that strengthen its position as a partner.
"So what South Africa is demonstrating is that we should move together, benefit together, and South Africa can benefit immensely from this rather than being exploited," the speaker noted.
Cooperation should never stem from ignorance. It must serve a nation's interests and the legitimate self-interest of states, he stressed.
"Member states are a different economic level of growth. So they should move together, not in isolation," Mbanje added.
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