Washington: Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose an additional 10% tariff on any country that aligns itself with what he called the “Anti-American policies of BRICS”, adding fresh uncertainty to the ongoing debate around global trade and tariffs.
“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 in a post on Truth Social late Sunday.
The BRICS alliance—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—recently held its summit, where leaders discussed a cross-border payment system aimed at facilitating trade and investment between member countries. The initiative, under discussion for over a decade, has gained renewed momentum in the face of evolving global trade dynamics.
Among the key participants were Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trump has in the past threatened to impose 100% tariffs on BRICS member states if they move away from using the U.S. dollar in bilateral trade agreements. Such rhetoric has reportedly encouraged BRICS nations to explore alternative payment systems and localized financial instruments to support intra-group commerce.
However, in his latest post, Trump did not clarify which specific BRICS policies he considers “Anti-American”, nor did he provide a timeline or implementation details for the proposed tariffs.
The statement comes at a time when U.S. trade policy and global economic alliances are undergoing significant shifts, with many nations exploring diversified trade partnerships and alternative financial frameworks.
