Trump Threatens Tariffs as BRICS Leaders Gather in Brazil, Push for Global Reform

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on countries aligning with the BRICS group, as leaders from the expanding bloc convened in Brazil on Sunday for a summit aimed at promoting multilateral cooperation amid rising global tensions.

“Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff,” Trump posted on Truth Social, warning there would be “no exceptions” to the policy. The post did not define what constituted “Anti-American policies.”

Trump’s remarks came just hours after the BRICS group—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and recent additions including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and the UAE—released a joint statement criticizing rising tariffs and protectionism. The statement warned that trade barriers posed a threat to global commerce, in an apparent swipe at Trump’s “America First” economic policies.

The summit in Rio de Janeiro opened with calls for a reformed global order, as BRICS leaders positioned the bloc as a voice for the Global South. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva likened the group to the Cold War-era Non-Aligned Movement, saying, “With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again.”

Lula highlighted BRICS’ growing clout, noting the bloc now represents more than half the global population and 40% of the world’s economic output. He also criticized the ineffectiveness of U.S.-led wars in the Middle East and warned of rising protectionism.

While the summit drew several high-profile attendees—including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa—Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his premier in his place, and Russian President Vladimir Putin participated remotely due to an International Criminal Court warrant.

Despite symbolic unity, the enlarged BRICS group faces internal complexities, with regional rivals among its members. Nevertheless, the bloc called for reforms to institutions such as the UN Security Council and International Monetary Fund to reflect today’s multipolar world.

The leaders voiced support for Iran and Ethiopia’s entry into the World Trade Organization and condemned military actions in Gaza and Kashmir. They also announced plans for a BRICS Multilateral Guarantees initiative within the New Development Bank to reduce financing costs and increase investment in member states.

On climate and technology, the group pledged support for AI safeguards and environmental conservation. Brazil, which will host the UN climate summit in November, has engaged with China and the UAE on investments to protect tropical forests.

Meanwhile, Trump’s administration is pushing forward with trade talks and preparing retaliatory tariffs, with a July 9 deadline looming. Indonesian Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto is expected in Washington this week for discussions.

As BRICS seeks to reshape global governance, Trump’s tariff threat signals that geopolitical fault lines are deepening, and economic pressure will remain a key weapon in the U.S. president’s arsenal.