RIO DE JANEIRO. U.S. President Donald Trump warned that countries aligning with BRICS and its “anti-American policies” would face an additional 10% tariff, escalating tensions as the group’s leaders gathered in Brazil for a high-stakes summit.
Trump made the threat Sunday on Truth Social, writing, “Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” He did not elaborate on which BRICS positions he considers anti-American.
The BRICS group, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded in recent years to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Over 30 more nations have reportedly expressed interest in joining as full members or partners.
Meeting at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Modern Art, leaders of the increasingly diverse bloc addressed global instability, trade conflicts, and institutional reform. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva opened the summit by comparing BRICS to the Cold War-era Non-Aligned Movement, saying, “BRICS is the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement. With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again.”
The summit’s joint statement warned that rising tariffs threaten global trade, while also condemning attacks on Iran’s infrastructure, voicing concern for Gaza, and criticizing a “terrorist attack” in India-administered Kashmir. The bloc also supported Ethiopia and Iran’s bid to join the World Trade Organization.
The leaders called for reforms in international governance, particularly at the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund, to reflect the 21st century’s multipolar reality. “If international governance does not reflect the new multipolar reality of the 21st century, it is up to BRICS to help bring it up to date,” Lula said, also criticizing the outcomes of U.S.-led wars in the Middle East.
Trump’s announcement comes as his administration races to conclude numerous trade deals before a self-imposed July 9 deadline for a new round of retaliatory tariffs. India’s foreign ministry has yet to comment on his statement.
China’s President Xi Jinping was notably absent from the summit, sending Premier Li Qiang instead. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended virtually, avoiding international travel due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over the war in Ukraine.
Despite questions about the cohesion of the expanded BRICS membership, leaders moved forward on joint economic initiatives. They backed a BRICS Multilateral Guarantees pilot under the New Development Bank to reduce financing costs for member states. They also issued a separate statement on artificial intelligence, calling for safeguards to prevent unauthorized data use and promote fair compensation mechanisms.
Brazil, which is also hosting the upcoming UN climate summit in November, used the BRICS platform to emphasize the role of developing countries in addressing climate change. China and the UAE, in separate meetings with Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad, expressed interest in supporting the proposed Tropical Forests Forever Facility to fund conservation efforts worldwide.
As the BRICS bloc gains diplomatic weight, the summit underlined its ambition to become a leading voice for the Global South, even as geopolitical rivalries and global uncertainty continue to test its unity.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
