US President Donald Trump on Sunday, July 7, said that countries that align themselves with BRICS’ “anti-American policies” will be charged an additional 10% tariff. “Any country that aligns itself with BRICS anti-American policies will be subject to an additional 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Trump did not give any explanation or details about the “anti-American policies” in his post. However, his threat is being linked to the declaration issued by the BRICS countries on Sunday itself. The US is preparing to send tariff letters to dozens of countries in the coming days. The Trump administration’s 90-day reprieve on high tariffs is set to expire on Wednesday. Trump said in a separate post that letters regarding tariffs will begin to be sent to countries from Monday afternoon Washington time (9.30 pm Monday India time).
In its declaration, BRICS has criticized the US and Trump without naming them. According to the declaration, BRICS members expressed “serious concern about the increase in unilateral tariffs” and said that the tariffs threaten to harm the global economy. Noting US allies such as Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia, at no point did the declaration criticise the US or its president by name.
These 11 emerging countries, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, account for nearly half the world’s population and 40 percent of global economic output. Although this group is largely divided on other issues But when it comes to the pugnacious US leader and his tariff wars, these countries have found a common ground to come together. They have criticised the US and Trump without naming them in their manifesto.