US-China Trade War: After US President Donald Trump warned of slapping an additional 10% tariff on countries supporting the “anti-American policies of BRICS,” China on Monday issued a sharp rebuke.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said tariffs should not be used as tools of coercion and reiterated China’s opposition to unilateral trade measures. “We oppose tariffs being used as a tool to coerce others. The use of tariffs serves no one,” Mao said at a regular press briefing, calling for respect for World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
Trump’s warning to BRICS-aligned nations
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared, “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.” The announcement comes amid heightened tension at the ongoing BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where leaders condemned the rise of unilateral tariffs, though they stopped short of naming the US directly.
BRICS’ concern
BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—have voiced strong concerns about the growing use of tariff and non-tariff barriers in global trade. The bloc warned that such measures could distort international commerce, threaten global growth, and increase economic volatility. The summit’s draft statement noted that “the global economy and financial markets have increasingly been subject to elevated uncertainty and bouts of intense volatility.”
In a clear message aimed at Washington, BRICS leaders called for enhanced cooperation and multilateral trade systems rooted in equity and international law. The bloc, which has recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE, also reiterated its push for an alternative payment system to reduce dependence on the US dollar.
The warning from Trump comes just days ahead of a critical July 9 deadline, marking the end of a 90-day suspension on previously announced reciprocal tariffs.