South African minister of trade Parks Tau recently initiated talks with US trade representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, DC, to negotiate a rollback of the high tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration.

The 30-per cent US tariff poses a significant threat to South Africa’s economy grappling with growth challenges and high unemployment. It could also lead to substantial job losses.

South African trade minister Parks Tau recently met US trade representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, DC, to discuss a rollback of the high tariffs imposed by the US administration.
The 30-per cent tariff poses a significant threat to South Africa’s economy grappling with growth challenges and high unemployment.
Both sides want to set up a road map for future engagement.

Both sides want to set up a road map for future engagement and resolve ongoing trade and diplomatic issues.

While South Africa’s trade ministry reported a constructive meeting, US trade officials have been silent on the deliberations.

Trump earlier accused the South African government of discrimination against the white minority, affecting bilateral relations.

The United States remains a key trade and investment partner for South Africa, with bilateral trade at $15.1 billion in 2024, the American Chamber of Commerce’s chapter in the country reported.

South Africa’s exports to the United States were valued at $8.2 billion in 2024; while US imports into the former were worth $6.9 billion. There are over 600 US companies in South Africa and more than 22 South African companies in the United States.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday promised to strengthen trade ties in the face of US tariff threats and pushed to keep the United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact (USMCA) alive in the lead-up to 2026 review talks.

Both met during Carney’s first visit to Mexico City as Canada’s Prime Minister.

“North America is the economic envy of the world, is the most competitive economic region of the world, and part of the reason for that is the cooperation between Canada and Mexico,” Carney said in a press conference following the meeting. “We complement the United States. We make them stronger. We are all stronger together,” he said.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday promised to strengthen trade ties amid US tariff threats and pushed to keep the US-Mexico-Canada trade pact (USMCA) alive in the lead-up to 2026 review talks.
Both want to raise bilateral trade through USMCA through maritime routes, avoiding passage of goods through the US, Sheinbaum said.

Over three-fourths of Canada’s exports and more than four-fifths of Mexico’s are to the United States.

Carney said he expects “much greater amounts of trade, much greater amounts of investment” between Mexico and Canada, while Sheinbaum said the two countries had agreed to a plan that what would “bring a new era of further strengthening economic ties” between the two sides.

Both want to raise bilateral trade through the free trade agreement through maritime routes, avoiding passage of goods through the United States, Sheinbaum said.

Carney aims to improve ties with Mexico during his two-day visit. The two leaders promised new rounds of bilateral meetings in the next few months, and greater collaboration on security issues, agriculture, energy, finance, health and environment, according to media reports.

Sheinbaum said the countries are already setting up teams and reviewing the agreement with the hopes of keeping trilateral free trade in place.

“USMCA is a testament to if Mexico, Canada and the United States work together, we can create prosperity, face global challenges successfully and position ourselves as the most dynamic region in the world,” Sheinbaum added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories, and Bluestar Alliance LLC, a leading global brand management firm, today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for Bluestar Alliance to acquire the Dickies brand for $600 million in cash.

Dickies is an iconic American heritage brand that sits at the intersection of workwear and streetwear, with distribution in 55 countries. For over a century, it has been a cultural staple, known for its durability, authenticity, and global influence. Balancing utility and style, Dickies continues to resonate across generations, geographies, and subcultures.

VF Corporation has agreed to sell its Dickies brand to Bluestar Alliance for $600 million in cash.
The iconic workwear label, with distribution in 55 countries, will benefit from Bluestar’s consumer insights and operational expertise.
VF CEO Bracken Darrell said the deal will reduce net debt and support portfolio growth while thanking the Dickies team for their efforts.

“Since 1922, Dickies has provided hard-wearing, long-lasting and comfortable clothes, cementing its status as a storied brand in performance workwear. We have followed the brand for many years and have a deep appreciation for its history and legacy, which VF Corporation has successfully begun to rebuild over the past few years,” said Joseph Gabbay, CEO, Bluestar Alliance. “We are committed to supporting the Dickies brand’s growth by leveraging our consumer insights and operational excellence to unlock its full value for all stakeholders.”

VF’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Bracken Darrell, said, “Dickies is an iconic American workwear brand with a bright future, and I am confident that under Bluestar Alliance’s ownership, it will continue to improve and realize its significant growth potential.” Darrell continued, “As I’ve said before, we continuously evaluate our portfolio and this transaction will enable us to bring our net debt level down and will be accretive to our growth on a pro-forma basis. I want to thank the entire Dickies team for their strong commitment to transforming the brand.”

The transaction is expected to close by the end of CY2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)