US trade threat: Donald Trump warns Brics nations of 10% tariff hike; bloc slams US trade policies
US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose an additional 10% import tariff on China, India, and other Brics nations after the 11-member grouping criticised his trade policies during their summit in Brazil.“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,” Trump said in a post on social media. His remarks came after Brics leaders denounced the US tariff regime as “indiscriminate”, “damaging”, and “illegal” in their joint statement on Sunday.The Brics bloc — which includes China, India, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia — accounts for nearly half the world’s population and about 40% of global economic output. Once envisioned as a forum for fast-growing emerging markets, the expanded Brics now brings together both US adversaries such as Iran and Russia, and Washington’s allies, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.While some US-aligned members sought to moderate the criticism by avoiding Trump’s name in the joint declaration, it did little to placate the White House. Saudi Arabia, a key buyer of US weapons, went so far as to withdraw its foreign minister from Sunday’s session and the official Brics “family photo”, AFP reported.Tariff pressure mounts ahead of August 1Trump’s renewed tariff threat comes ahead of an August 1 deadline, by which the administration has demanded new trade deals from global partners or face sweeping unilateral duties. The Brics nations now appear likely to be targeted for steeper penalties.The latest backlash also follows a Brics statement condemning US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure — a move seen as bolstering member state Iran amid rising Middle East tensions.China defends Brics stanceChina rejected accusations that the Brics platform was hostile to the United States. “China has repeatedly stated its position that trade and tariff wars have no winners, and protectionism offers no way forward,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning in a briefing on Monday.“Brics is not targeted at any country,” Mao added, calling the bloc an “important platform for cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries.”The summit’s momentum appeared weakened by the absence of key leaders. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who has never missed a Brics summit in 12 years, skipped this year’s event. Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted by the International Criminal Court over the Ukraine war, joined via video link.Despite the diplomatic strain, Putin told Brics counterparts the group has become a “key player in global governance”, underlining its growing geopolitical weight.
