China Blasts Trump’s ‘Arbitrary’ 10% Tariff Threat On BRICS Allies: ‘Tool For Coercion And Pressure’
The latest BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro has drawn sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump, who threatened an additional 10% tariff on nations aligning with what he called “anti-American” policies of the BRICS group. The summit, held over the weekend, saw leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates gathering to discuss multilateral cooperation.
Trump declared on Truth Social: “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!” Trump did not elaborate on what he meant by “anti-American policies.”
China Rejects Tariffs As ‘Coercion’
Responding to Trump’s threats, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasised that BRICS is “a positive force in the international community. Its cooperation is open and inclusive, and not targeted at any particular country.” According to Reuters, she added, “We have consistently opposed tariff wars and trade wars. We are against using tariffs as a tool for coercion and pressure. Arbitrarily imposing tariffs does not serve the interests of any party.”
BRICS Calls For Reform Of Global Governance
During opening remarks at the summit, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva highlighted the bloc’s growing importance, saying BRICS is “the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement. With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again.” Lula argued that if international institutions fail to reflect the emerging multipolar world, BRICS must help update them.
He cited the failures of US-led wars in the Middle East as examples of outdated approaches that global governance structures need to overcome.
Despite the expanding membership—which now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE—there are rising questions over the group’s unity, given internal rivalries among some members.
Still, BRICS leaders released a joint statement criticising rising tariffs for threatening global trade, echoing concerns over Trump’s economic policies. They also condemned attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure, voiced “grave concern” for Palestinians affected by Israeli strikes on Gaza, and called the attack in India-administered Kashmir a “terrorist attack.”
The bloc expressed support for Iran and Ethiopia’s bids to join the World Trade Organization and backed an initiative to trial a BRICS Multilateral Guarantees programme within the New Development Bank to lower borrowing costs and boost investments in member countries.
Climate And AI Cooperation In Spotlight At BRICS
Brazil, which will host the upcoming UN climate summit in November, used the BRICS platform to highlight developing countries’ commitment to addressing climate change. According to sources cited by Reuters, China and the UAE told Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad in Rio they planned to invest in a proposed Tropical Forests Forever Facility to support endangered forests globally.
In a separate statement, BRICS leaders called for safeguards against unauthorised use of artificial intelligence, advocating limits on excessive data harvesting and mechanisms for fair compensation.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s senior economic minister, Airlangga Hartarto, who attended the BRICS summit, is set to visit the US to discuss tariff issues, Reuters reported. India’s foreign ministry has yet to comment.
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