The South African rand was little changed in muted trade on Tuesday even after the release of a positive purchasing managers' index survey as investors continued to wait for tariff updates ahead of the United States' August 8 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