In a major escalation of his trade war, US President Donald Trump has announced a fresh 10% tariff on countries aligned with the growing BRICS alliance. The decision comes just as the now 11-member BRICS bloc concluded a tense summit in Rio de Janeiro, where Trump’s trade tactics were heavily criticised.
The BRICS group—which now includes China, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE—had gathered to project unity and economic cooperation. But the final day of the summit was overshadowed by Trump’s announcement, adding a new layer of global tension.
Addressed the session on ‘Environment, COP30, and Global Health’ at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. I’m grateful to Brazil for initiating a discussion on these topics at the BRICS Summit because these are important subjects for the future of humankind. pic.twitter.com/YmzecrnW5U
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 7, 2025
Trump made his position clear via social media:
“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.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump is personally monitoring the situation. “He views BRICS not as a strong economic bloc, but as a political attempt to challenge US interests,” she said.
This is the latest step in Trump’s aggressive trade agenda, which already includes tariffs of up to 50% on goods from dozens of nations. The new deadline for bilateral trade agreements has been pushed to 1 August, replacing the earlier 9 July cutoff.
On the BRICS side, responses varied. China, Russia, and South Africa chose to remain measured. But Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva didn’t hold back, saying, “We are sovereign nations. We don’t want an emperor.”
India and Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, adopted a more diplomatic stance. India refrained from direct criticism, while Saudi Arabia avoided full participation on the final day, even skipping the group photograph. Still, Trump reiterated his stance over the weekend: “There will be no exceptions.”
According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, several countries have rushed to negotiate deals before the deadline. Only a few have successfully concluded trade agreements with Washington so far:
- United Kingdom: Reduced tariffs on cars and aerospace goods.
- Vietnam: A 20% tariff on Vietnamese imports, but zero tariffs on US goods.
- China: A partial agreement, lowering some tariffs and lifting restrictions on mineral exports.
However, talks with Japan and the European Union have stalled. Trump warned Tokyo it could face tariffs up to 35%, while the EU is negotiating to reduce its 25–50% tariffs on steel, cars, and parts, and maintain a 10% tax on other goods.
The BRICS summit also faced its own challenges. Chinese President Xi Jinping was notably absent for the first time in over a decade, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, still under an ICC warrant, addressed the summit via video link.
Despite these absences, Putin emphasized BRICS’ role in shaping global governance and called for unity among its members. China’s foreign ministry responded to Trump’s move calmly, stating, “Trade and tariff wars have no winners. BRICS is not targeted at any country.” The Kremlin echoed that BRICS is not designed to oppose third countries.
With August fast approaching, global markets and diplomatic circles are watching closely. The world is seeing a reshaped economic landscape where alignments, trade blocs, and tariff policies are shifting rapidly—and nations are being forced to pick sides.
