MMNN News | July 7, 2025

WASHINGTON / RIO DE JANEIRO — In a bold declaration posted on his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump announced that countries aligning themselves with the “anti-American policies” of the BRICS group will face an additional 10 per cent tariff on their exports to the United States.

“Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10 per cent Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump posted, without elaborating on what those “anti-American policies” entail.

This announcement came just hours after the conclusion of the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where leaders from the expanded bloc voiced serious concerns over unilateral US trade measures and condemned recent US-Israeli military strikes on Iran.

BRICS Expands, Finds Unity in Criticism of US

Originally formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS has since grown to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Despite internal divisions on various global issues, the summit participants unified in their criticism of protectionist trade policies—clearly aimed at Trump’s tariff threats, though without naming him directly.

“We express serious concern about the rise of unilateral tariff measures that threaten global economic stability,” the BRICS joint statement said.

The summit also voiced support for Iran, condemning the recent strikes by Israel and the United States on nuclear and military targets within Iranian territory.

Tensions Amid Expansion and Absences

The summit’s political momentum was dampened by notable absences:

• China’s President Xi Jinping skipped the meeting for the first time in 12 years.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted by the ICC over Ukraine, attended via video.
• Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister also did not participate in Sunday’s key discussions, highlighting internal tensions within the bloc.

While BRICS has positioned itself as a counterbalance to Western dominance, its expansion to include rivals such as Iran and Saudi Arabia has complicated efforts to reach consensus, particularly on issues like the Gaza conflict.

Even so, the group issued a symbolic call for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine, though Iran expressed reservations behind the scenes.

Global Tech and Trade in the Crosshairs

The summit also emphasized the need for global regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), cautioning that advanced technologies should not remain the exclusive domain of wealthy nations. While the AI field is currently dominated by American companies, China and others are catching up rapidly.

Trump, meanwhile, has set an August 1 deadline for trade partners to strike “deals” or face further tariffs. His actions have rattled global markets, and according to observers, risk undermining long-term diplomatic and economic ties.

As BRICS evolves into a more assertive geopolitical player, tensions between the bloc and the United States appear to be entering a new and potentially volatile phase.