U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that countries aligning with the “anti-American policies” of the BRICS economic bloc will face an additional 10% tariff on trade with the United States, with no exceptions. The warning, posted on his Truth Social platform, comes as BRICS leaders convene in Brazil and condemn U.S. unilateral trade measures and military actions against Iran.
BRICS Summit Criticizes U.S. Trade Policies
The BRICS group—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—issued a declaration on Sunday denouncing unilateral tariffs that violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. The bloc also condemned recent U.S. military strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, framing such actions as destabilizing.
Trump responded defiantly, writing: “Any country that aligns with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an additional 10% tariff, and there will be no exceptions.” However, he did not specify which BRICS policies he deemed “anti-American.”
China, Russia Push Back
China rejected Trump’s threat, reiterating its opposition to trade wars. “Protectionism has no way out,” a Chinese spokesperson said, emphasizing that BRICS promotes “open and inclusive cooperation, not targeting any country.”
The Kremlin echoed this sentiment, stating that BRICS is “a group of nations united by shared interests, not opposition to third countries.”
Trade Deadline Extended, New Deals Possible
Meanwhile, the Trump administration delayed the implementation of previously announced tariffs—including a 31% levy on South African exports—from July 9 to August 1, allowing more time for negotiations.
Commerce Secretary officials confirmed that tariff letters and potential bilateral trade deals are being dispatched this week. “Some letters will go out Monday, some Tuesday, and some deals have already been made,” Trump said, hinting at agreements with up to 15 nations.
South Africa has sought exemptions for key exports like automobiles, steel, and aluminum, offering to buy U.S. liquefied natural gas in return. Pretoria’s proposal was first discussed during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s White House visit in May.
Global Trade Tensions Escalate
The latest moves signal a hardening U.S. stance against BRICS, which has positioned itself as a counterweight to Western economic dominance. With reciprocal tariffs looming and negotiations ongoing, the coming weeks will test whether nations choose concessions over alignment with the emerging bloc.