…As BRICS’ Leaders Slam Him On “Indiscriminate” Tariff Policy
US President Donald Trump has again threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on countries aligning themselves with the “anti-American policies” of BRICS.
Nigeria, which joined BRICS as a partner country in January, has been pushing for full membership.
The latest threat is coming as the as the BRICS summit unfolds in Rio de Janeiro, where member nations criticized unilateral trade actions and emphasized support for multilateralism.
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In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump maintained that “there will be no exceptions to this policy.
“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”, he added
If the threat is implemented, the new tariff would compound the existing 14% import tax on Nigerian goods imposed by the Trump administration since taking office in January.
As Trump’s decision continued to raise concerns about a global economic slowdown, the BRICS foreign ministers are expressing “serious concern at the prospect of a fragmented global economy and the weakening of multilateralism”.
The BRICS economic bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and other member countries, was formed to boost international standing and challenge US and Western European dominance.
Trump has long criticized BRICS, and his latest announcement comes as the US begins formally notifying affected countries of tariffs declared earlier this year.
Nigeria’s economy may face indirect impacts from the tariff war, including inflationary pressures, disruptions in global supply chains, and potential declines in oil prices.
As the tariff letters go out, Trump has asked global counterparts to “take it or leave it”, signaling a tough stance on trade negotiations.
China has strongly condemned the move as coercive and warned that such policies harm global trade.
Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations met in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, reaffirming the bloc’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Brazilian President, Luiz Inatio Lula da Silva, said: “We are witnessing the unparalleled collapse of multilateralism.
“If international governance does not reflect the new multipolar reality of the 21st century, it is up to BRICS to help bring it up to date”, he stressed.
The BRICS countries also condemned what they described as Trump’s “indiscriminate” tariff policy .
They expressed “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules”, saying such measures are “affecting prospects for global economic development.”
