Quick Summary:
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President Trump threatened a 10% tariff on nations supporting BRICS’ “anti-American” stance.
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The BRICS summit in Brazil called for multilateral diplomacy and reform of global institutions.
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The bloc continues expanding, now representing over half the world’s population and 40% of global GDP.
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BRICS leaders condemned global conflicts, backed AI regulation, and emphasized environmental financing.
President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will impose an additional 10% tariff on any country aligning itself with the “Anti-American policies” of the BRICS group. His comments come as BRICS leaders began a major summit in Brazil on Sunday.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump declared:
“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.”
He did not specify what constituted “anti-American policies.”
BRICS Champions Multilateralism and Criticizes Protectionism
During the summit in Rio de Janeiro, BRICS leaders pushed back against protectionist trade practices. A joint statement warned that rising tariffs posed a threat to global trade, a clear reference to Trump’s economic stance.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described BRICS as the modern heir to the Non-Aligned Movement, emphasizing the bloc’s autonomy and commitment to multilateral diplomacy.
“With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again,” Lula stated.
Expansion Signals Rising Global Influence
Originally formed in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China—and later South Africa—BRICS has grown to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the UAE. Saudi Arabia has not formally joined, but over 30 nations have expressed interest in becoming members or partners.
The group now represents over 50% of the global population and accounts for 40% of the world’s economic output.
Differing Goals and Shared Ambitions
Despite growing complexity due to divergent interests among members, BRICS leaders remained united on key global issues:
- They condemned attacks on Iran’s infrastructure and expressed support for Palestine and Kashmir.
- BRICS called for WTO reform and a revival of dispute resolution mechanisms.
- The bloc proposed a Multilateral Guarantees initiative through the New Development Bank to encourage investment and reduce financing costs.
AI, Climate Change, and Global Governance
In a separate statement, BRICS emphasized the need for ethical and controlled use of artificial intelligence, calling for regulations to prevent excessive data collection and promote fair use.
Brazil, the summit host and upcoming UN climate summit venue, showcased its leadership in environmental conservation. China and the UAE discussed investments in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, aimed at protecting endangered forests globally.
Diplomatic Complexity and U.S. Pushback
Although some key BRICS leaders were absent—Xi Jinping sent China’s premier, and Vladimir Putin appeared virtually—heavyweights like India’s Narendra Modi and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa attended in person.
Trump’s sudden tariff threat adds friction to an already complex global landscape, especially as his administration races to finalize trade deals ahead of a July 9 deadline.