Washington: The Trump administration is holding back for now on slapping a new 10% tariff on BRICS nations but has warned it will proceed if any member adopts policies viewed as "anti-American," according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
In a Sunday post on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump declared that the U.S. would impose the additional tariff on countries aligning with what he called “anti-American agendas” within the BRICS group. His statement came just hours after BRICS leaders released a joint declaration condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and Iran, criticizing U.S. allies, and pushing for reforms to global financial institutions.
“The tariff won’t be immediate,” said the unnamed source, “but if a nation’s policy direction crosses the anti-American line, the measure will be enforced.”
Although no formal executive order has been issued by the White House, Trump's announcement has stirred unease as countries like India and Indonesia engage in urgent negotiations to finalize trade agreements with Washington before the July 9 deadline now delayed to August 1. The talks are crucial to avoiding the steep tariffs first proposed by Trump in April.
The BRICS bloc originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the UAE, with Saudi Arabia participating as a partner. Additional partners include nations such as Bolivia, Cuba, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam.
Trump's message appears designed to exert leverage over countries heavily reliant on U.S. trade, with trade analysts suggesting the tariff threat is a tactic to reinforce American negotiating power.
Despite the strong language, some member nations have distanced themselves from any perceived hostility toward Washington. South Africa stated its U.S. relations remain “positive and constructive,” while Indonesia facing a possible 32% tariff has proposed a major trade package worth $34 billion and pledged to drastically lower import duties on U.S. goods, including a $500 million purchase of American wheat.
It remains uncertain how Trump’s latest warning will impact ongoing trade negotiations with key BRICS players. What is clear is that the former president is signaling a readiness to wield tariffs as a geopolitical tool particularly when it comes to nations seen as drifting from U.S. alignment.