BRICS Pushes Back on Trump’s ‘Anti-American’ Tariff Threat

BRICS nations rejected President Donald Trump's claim that they represent an "anti-American" bloc after he threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on members who support his agenda. The president issued his warning about tariffs just before the July 9 deadline for nations to establish trade agreements or face major retaliatory penalties.

China along with South Africa and Russia dismissed the characterization through statements which highlighted BRICS' dedication to multilateral cooperation. The foreign ministry of China declared that tariffs should never function as instruments of force. The South African government described its talks with Washington as productive and Russia repeated that BRICS does not aim to target any third nations.

The upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil will host leaders from emerging economies including Indonesia and Malaysia who face suspended U.S. tariffs. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva skipped addressing Trump's warning to focus on environmental and health matters during his opening remarks.

The group issued a joint statement which cautioned that increasing tariffs pose a threat to worldwide trade operations. The sudden tariff threats from Trump have made BRICS more attractive to developing nations as they seek to challenge U.S. control over trade policy.

The United States faces competition from dozens of countries seeking trade agreements while its aggressive trade policies create concern among nations that depend on American market access.