KUALA LUMPUR – United States President Donald Trump has declared that any country supporting what he termed as “Anti-American policies” championed by the Brics alliance will face an additional 10% tariff, with no exemptions.
“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,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account on Sunday.
The warning coincides with the ongoing Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro, where member states have collectively criticised the US’s trade practices and advocated for a reformed global economic order.
Brics – originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – expanded last year to include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Singapore, making the group a significant representation of the Global South and more than half the world’s population.
During the summit, the group’s finance ministers issued a joint statement cautioning against protectionist trade policies, describing tariffs as a destabilising force in international commerce. The statement warned of the “proliferation of trade-restrictive actions” and condemned such measures for bringing “uncertainty into international economic and trade activities”.
In a show of solidarity, Brics members also criticised recent military operations targeting Iran, describing the attacks as violations of international law. The strikes, conducted by both Israel and the US since June 13, have reportedly included Iranian nuclear sites.
While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were present in person, Chinese President Xi Jinping was notably absent, with Premier Li Qiang attending in his place. Russian President Vladimir Putin joined the summit virtually due to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Trump, who has previously denounced Brics for attempting to undermine Western dominance in global finance, had earlier this year threatened to impose 100% tariffs should the bloc proceed with efforts to launch a common currency to rival the US dollar.
He confirmed that formal notifications detailing country-specific tariff rates and related agreements will begin on Monday. This aligns with comments made by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who stated that nations yet to finalise deals with Washington could expect the new tariffs to take effect on August 1.
“We are saying this is when it’s happening. If you want to speed things up, have at it. If you want to go back to the old rate, that’s your choice,” Bessent told CNN on Sunday.
In April, Trump had temporarily suspended the proposed tariffs for 90 days, a pause that is set to expire this Wednesday, fuelling concerns among global investors and trade partners. – July 7, 2025