Trump Warns BRICS Nations, Including India, of 10% Tariff, ETCFO

4 min read

<p>Donald Trump's 10% additional tariff warning to BRICS (AI image)</p>
Donald Trump’s 10% additional tariff warning to BRICS (AI image)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that all BRICS nations, including India, would face an additional 10% tariff, accusing the bloc of working to undermine the US dollar.

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting chaired by him, Trump warned: “BRICS is getting 10% charge pretty soon.”

When questioned about what happens to US’ crucial trade partner India which is a part of the Global South bloc, Trump said that New Delhi won’t be an exception as part of BRICS.

“They (India) have to pay 10 per cent if they’re in BRICS because BRICS was set up to hurt us; BRICS was set up to degenerate our dollar,” Trump said.

The US President alleged, yet again, that BRICS was “trying to destroy the dollar’.

Though, he added that he doesn’t see the bloc as a real threat to America.

Tariff threat to BRICS: Imminent?

A report by Reuters earlier on Tuesday said that the new tariff threat on BRICS is not set to be imposed immediately. Instead, it would be triggered if any country associated with the bloc takes specific policy actions deemed “anti-American.”

“A line is being drawn. If policy decisions are made that are anti-American, then the tariff will be charged,” said a source familiar with the discussions, as quoted by Reuters.

Trump on Monday issued a direct warning to member countries of the expanded BRICS bloc, stating that any nation aligning itself with what he described as “anti-American” policies would face an additional 10% tariff.

“Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

Trump did not elaborate on what specifically constituted “anti-American policies.”

BRICS slams US tariffs as ‘illegal and arbitrary’

The warning came just a day after BRICS leaders, meeting at a summit in Rio de Janeiro, issued a sharply worded statement denouncing Trump’s sweeping trade actions as a threat to global economic stability.“We voice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules,” the bloc said in a joint communiqué, directly referring to Trump’s escalating tariffs on imports.

The statement called such measures “illegal and arbitrary,” warning they could “further reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty into international economic and trade activities.”

The expanded BRICS bloc now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, representing nearly half of the global population and around 40% of global GDP.

Though divided on some strategic issues, BRICS members have expressed rare consensus in opposing the United States’ increasingly unilateral trade approach under Trump, particularly the “deal-or-tariff” framework he has advanced in recent months.

Tariff policy could rise further

Trump first announced a 10% baseline tariff on most imports in April, with higher rates targeted at selected countries. After market backlash, those higher tariffs were briefly paused, but the administration has warned that rates could climb to as high as 70% if countries fail to strike new trade deals by August 1.

The BRICS bloc, meanwhile, has reiterated its commitment to a rules-based global trading order under the World Trade Organization (WTO), positioning itself in opposition to Trump’s tariff-first doctrine.

The original BRICS group was formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. The bloc’s latest expansion in 2024 added six new members, making it one of the most influential developing-country alliances in global affairs.

  • Published On Jul 9, 2025 at 08:40 AM IST

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