The U.S. decision to impose tariffs on South African goods is a unilateral act that is bent on weaponizing the U.S. economic power, and the move is meant to coerce South Africa to align with U.S. foreign policy, a South African scholar has said. Sizo Nkala, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg, made the statement in an interview with China Media Group (CMG). His comment came after U.S. president Donald Trump announced 30 percent tariffs on all goods produced in South Africa, starting from Aug 1. Nkala said the tariff decision is politically motivated and aims to pressure South Africa into changing its foreign policy stance. Nkala said the U.S. is using tariffs as a tool to weaponize its economic power, and he expressed the hope for South Africa to resist the external pressure. Shotlist: FILE: Pretoria, South Africa - Aug 2023: 1. National flag of South Africa; FILE: Johannesburg, South Africa - February, 2025 2. Aerial shot of cityscape; Johannesburg, South Africa - Recent 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sizo Nkala, research fellow, Center for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg: "These tariffs are political. ++JUMP CUT++It's about South Africa's foreign policy choices, and I think the U.S. wants to undermine South Africa's sovereignty and its right to make sovereign choices on the international stage."; FILE: Washington D.C., USA - Oct 2024 4. Various of White House, U.S. national flag; Johannesburg, South Africa - Recent 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sizo Nkala, research fellow, Center for Africa-China Studies, University of Johannesburg: "It's a unilateral act that is bent on weaponizing U.S. economic power, and also it's meant to coerce South Africa to align with U.S. foreign policy. So I hope South Africa is able to resist this coercion by the U.S."; FILE: Cape Town, South Africa - April 2025 6. Various of people working in car manufacturing plant, auto parts, production line; FILE: Cape Town, South Africa - June 2025 7. Aerial shot of harvested citrus; 8. Various of port scene, traffic, cargo ship sailing. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]