US President Donald Trump has warned that countries aligning themselves with what he calls the “anti-American” agenda of the BRICS alliance will face an additional 10% tariff on goods exported to the United States.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump stated:
“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’s remarks come amid renewed tensions between the US and BRICS member states, as the bloc met this weekend in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to discuss economic cooperation, global governance reforms, and geopolitical flashpoints.
BRICS—originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded last year to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The alliance now represents over 50% of the world’s population, and its leaders have increasingly voiced opposition to US-led economic policies.
In a joint statement issued by BRICS finance ministers on Sunday, the bloc criticised protectionist trade measures, particularly unilateral tariffs, describing them as a threat to global economic stability.
“These measures bring uncertainty into international economic and trade activities,” the statement read.
The BRICS leadership also called for reforms to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the global currency valuation system, proposals widely seen as efforts to reduce dependency on the US dollar and shift influence away from traditional Western financial institutions.
Tensions have also been heightened by BRICS condemnation of recent military strikes on Iran, which they described as violations of international law. Since mid-June, both Israel and the United States have conducted airstrikes on targets in Iran, including nuclear-related infrastructure.
The Rio BRICS summit brought together key global figures, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Notably absent was Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was represented by Premier Li Qiang. Russian President Vladimir Putin participated virtually due to an active International Criminal Court warrant against him over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Trump has consistently taken a hardline stance against BRICS. In 2024, he threatened 100% tariffs on member states if the bloc proceeded with plans to introduce a common currency aimed at challenging the dominance of the US dollar.
With the 2026 US presidential election cycle ramping up, Trump’s latest remarks signal a continued push toward economic nationalism and a more confrontational trade stance against emerging global alliances.
