The South African rand was steady in early trade on Wednesday, with investor focus still pinned on tariff updates before Washington's deadline.

U.S. reciprocal tariffs have put an estimated 30,000 jobs at risk, South African authorities said Monday, four days before a 30% U.S. tariff on most imports from South Africa kicks in. South Africa was slapped with one of the highest tariff rates by its third-largest trading partner — after China and the EU — creating uncertainty for the future of some export industries and catapulting a scramble for new markets outside the U.

Ministers race to offer ‘support measures’ to affected companies as the coalition squabbles over handling of talks