Brasilia: The BRICS alliance has stepped up its response to escalating U.S. trade measures, with leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with new partner nations, vowing greater cooperation to counter what they describe as unilateral economic coercion.
At a virtual summit on September 8, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the steep 50 percent import duties imposed by the United States, calling them a form of “tariff blackmail.” Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed the concern, warning that such measures undermine global stability. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for global trade practices to remain fair, open, and predictable, cautioning against overcomplicating the message amid growing protectionism. The summit also saw participation from Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, the UAE, and Ethiopia, expanding the BRICS platform’s outreach.
Meanwhile, Washington has introduced new sanctions targeting buyers of Russian oil, a move that particularly affects India and China. U.S. officials hope to cut Moscow’s energy revenue amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, but traders have warned of disruptions to global oil flows. India has defended its cooperation with Russia, arguing that it is vital to maintaining energy security and affordability for its population.
The strain in U.S.-India relations has grown sharper during President Donald Trump’s second term, with high tariffs and critical rhetoric driving New Delhi closer to Moscow and Beijing. At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s “special and privileged” relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both leaders expected to deepen energy and trade ties. Putin is scheduled to visit India in December for the annual bilateral summit.
While India continues to stress its commitment to strategic autonomy, analysts believe Trump’s aggressive trade stance is accelerating a realignment that places India more firmly within the orbit of Russia and China. Still, experts caution that despite the optics of joint summits and public statements, underlying strategic differences among these powers mean the realignment remains more symbolic than absolute.
Elsewhere, Brazil is facing direct economic fallout from the U.S. tariffs, with exports to the American market plunging 18.5 percent in August compared to last year. The Brazilian government is weighing retaliatory measures and has signaled its intention to file a complaint at the World Trade Organization.
The developments mark a significant shift in the global economic order, as BRICS nations seek to bolster intra-bloc cooperation in the face of mounting trade disputes and unilateral sanctions.