Washington: US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning that countries supporting the anti-American policies of the BRICS economic bloc will face an additional 10 percent tariff. "There will be no exceptions to this policy," Trump announced on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing the seriousness of the directive late on Sunday.
According to TRTworld.com, Trump further declared that US tariff letters and agreements with numerous countries worldwide "will be delivered starting 1600 GMT, Monday, July 7th." This announcement coincides with the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, where leaders and representatives have gathered for the group's 17th annual meeting. The BRICS nations, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, have criticized Trump's "indiscriminate" import tariffs and recent Israeli-US strikes on Iran. Despite being divided on various issues, the bloc found common ground in opposing the US leader's tariff policies, expressing "serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff measures" in a joint statement.
BRICS members also expressed support for Iran, condemning military strikes by the US and Israel on Iranian targets. Previously, Trump threatened both allies and rivals with additional duties but offered a temporary reprieve following market backlash. However, he has warned of imposing unilateral levies unless countries reach "deals" by August 1. Despite these tensions, the BRICS summit declaration refrained from directly criticizing the US or Trump, perhaps as a concession to US allies like Brazil, India, and Saudi Arabia.
The BRICS bloc, originally formed as a platform for fast-growing economies, has expanded to include countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, although it struggles to find consensus on issues such as the Israel-Palestine conflict and US global influence. Notably, the summit highlighted the need for regulation in artificial intelligence, asserting that the technology should not be exclusive to wealthy nations. This comes as the commercial AI sector remains dominated by US companies, while China and other countries rapidly develop their capacities.
The diplomatic impact of the summit was diminished by the absence of key figures, including China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin. Putin, facing war crime charges related to Ukraine, participated via video link, emphasizing BRICS' role in global governance. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister skipped the discussions entirely, highlighting the complex diplomatic landscape surrounding the BRICS summit.
