Trump threatens 10% additional tariffs on countries aligning with ‘anti-American’ policies of BRICS, ‘there will be no…’

US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to nations supporting the “anti-American policies of BRICS,” threatening them with a 10% additional tariff.

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.”

This comes hours after leaders of the BRICS nations strongly condemned rising unilateral trade tariffs that threaten global economic stability.

Notably, BRICS nations have long advocated for a common currency or alternative payment system to reduce dependence on the US dollar, aiming to strengthen economic sovereignty and promote multipolarity in global finance.

What happened at BRICS?

At the ongoing BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, leaders of the bloc expressed “serious concerns” over the growing use of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures, calling them inconsistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. While the draft summit statement stopped short of directly naming the United States or President Donald Trump, the message was unmistakably aimed at Washington’s escalating protectionist policies.

Since returning to office, President Trump has reinstated a wave of trade measures, including a fresh set of tariff hikes scheduled to take effect in August. These include a 10% base tariff and additional duties of up to 50% on certain imports. BRICS leaders warned that such actions risk distorting international trade, undermining global growth, and triggering another round of economic volatility.

“The global economy and financial markets have increasingly been subject to elevated uncertainty and bouts of intense volatility,” the joint statement reads. In this context, BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—called for enhanced cooperation, not just within the group but also with other emerging and developed economies.

The warning comes just ahead of a key July 9 deadline, marking the end of a 90-day suspension on Trump-era reciprocal tariffs. Fearing a new phase of global trade conflict, BRICS leaders urged restraint, advocating for inclusive globalisation, de-escalation, and multilateral solutions to ensure sustainable and balanced growth across the world.