Monday, July 7, 2025 - President Donald Trump has warned of fresh tariffs on any country backing what he called “anti-American policies” of the BRICS group, as his administration moves to ramp up trade pressure ahead of a key deadline
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that starting
Monday, the U.S. would send out tariff letters to dozens of countries. He
threatened an additional 10% duty on nations aligning with BRICS, though he did
not specify which policies he viewed as anti-American.
BRICS originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and
South Africa — has recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia,
Iran, and the UAE, with additional partners like Nigeria and Thailand. The bloc
champions a multipolar world order that reduces Western dominance, recently
criticizing the rise of “unilateral tariff measures,” a veiled reference to
U.S. trade practices.
Trump’s move comes as the administration’s 90-day tariff
pause nears its end on Wednesday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said roughly
100 letters would be sent, many to smaller nations with minimal trade, locking
in a baseline 10% tariff. Trump suggested rates could range up to 70%, though
Bessent clarified major partners wouldn’t face the highest levels.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the tariffs would
take effect August 1, saying the administration was applying “maximum
pressure.”
Trump insisted most countries would either secure deals or
receive tariff letters by July 9. He pointed to recent agreements with the UK,
China, and Vietnam as examples, while cautioning that countries failing to
negotiate would revert to previous higher rates.
The BRICS summit in Brazil over the weekend added friction.
Member nations voiced concerns over attacks on Iran and condemned strikes on
civilian infrastructure, indirectly referencing Israeli and U.S. operations.
The summit also discussed cross-border payments, though the idea of a shared
BRICS currency — floated in 2023 — has largely faded.
When asked about Trump’s latest threat, China’s Foreign
Ministry defended BRICS as a cooperative platform not aimed at any country,
warning that trade wars and tariffs serve no one’s interest.
“Arbitrarily increasing tariffs does not serve the interests
of any party,” spokesperson Mao Ning said.
Trump’s tough stance injects new uncertainty into global
markets, just days before his administration’s self-imposed tariff decision
deadline. It also underscores how BRICS’ growing influence is drawing sharper
scrutiny from Washington, especially as the group seeks to challenge
Western-led economic structures.
0 Comments