Trump issues warnings of retaliation against BRICS countries for allegedly endorsing "unfavorable U.S. policies"
In the ongoing global trade tensions, the threats made by former U.S. President Donald Trump towards countries supporting the BRICS group have raised concerns. However, the specific responses from the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to these tariff threats in 2025 remain unclear, as the search results do not provide direct information on this matter.
The BRICS, an intergovernmental organisation formed in 2006 by Russia, China, India, and Brazil, expanded to include 10 countries in 2024, with South Africa joining in 2011 and Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia joining in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Russia chaired the BRICS in 2024.
President Trump, on his Truth Social platform, threatened countries supporting the BRICS with a 10% tariff increase, and upon taking office in January 2025, he also threatened countries in the BRICS group with 100-percent tariffs if they attempted to replace the American dollar as the international currency for transactions.
In response to these unilateral protectionist measures, including arbitrary tariff increases, BRICS leaders have condemned such actions in a joint communiqué, expressing their concern about the spread of trade restrictions and the potential exacerbation of existing inequalities on the global economy.
Historically and generally, the BRICS nations have been resistant to such U.S. tariff threats and have been actively promoting alternatives to the U.S. dollar in international trade. They have been increasing bilateral trade in local currencies, expanding the use of the Chinese yuan and other currencies for settlements, developing or supporting new payment systems independent of U.S.-controlled infrastructure, and calling for a more multipolar financial system in forums like the BRICS summits and international organizations.
These efforts aim to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar and hedge against American economic policies perceived as protectionist or coercive. However, for precise current views and recent responses, one would need to consult the latest news releases from BRICS governments or international economic forums dated after July 2025.
As of now, 22 more countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, including Bangladesh, Venezuela, Ethiopia, Algeria, and others. Additionally, Turkey and Burkina Faso have expressed their desire to become members of BRICS. Belarus has already accepted Putin's invitation to become a BRICS partner, and the new tariffs, if implemented, will take effect in trade deals from July 7, 2025.
The current BRICS summit is taking place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, and it remains to be seen how the BRICS nations will address these tariff threats and currency-related issues in their discussions and future actions.
[1] Note: This article summarises the available information from the provided search results and broader context. For detailed country-by-country official reactions or policy measures, further research is required, such as consulting the latest news releases from BRICS governments or international economic forums dated after July 2025.
- In light of the unilateral protectionist measures taken by President Trump, such as the threatened tariff increases towards BRICS nations, the organization has expressed their concerns and condemnation in a joint communiqué.
- The forthcoming BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro provides an opportunity for the BRICS nations to address the tariff threats and currency-related issues, offering potential insights into their policy-and-legislation responses to these war-and-conflicts-related matters in the realm of politics and general-news.
