Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Jul 7: In a sharp escalation of trade tensions, US President Donald Trump has warned of a 10 percent additional tariff on countries that align with BRICS policies he deems "anti-American." The warning follows a strongly-worded joint declaration issued at the BRICS 2025 Summit in Brazil, where member states condemned the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, calling the actions "illegal."

The 10-member bloc—Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and the UAE—also criticised what they termed “indiscriminate rising of tariffs,” a veiled jab at the US trade policy. Trump, responding to the declaration, accused BRICS of attempting to undermine American global leadership and vowed retaliatory tariffs.

“I have tariff letters for 12 countries signed and ready,” Trump declared, noting that the measures will be rolled out at 12 PM EST on Monday, July 8, marking the end of his previously extended 90-day tariff pause.

At the Brazil summit, Indian PM Narendra Modi joined BRICS leaders in condemning terror attacks, particularly the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, while slamming the double standards in the global response to terrorism in the Global South.

“We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism,” the declaration stated.

The BRICS group also took a firm stand on the Gaza conflict, warning against unilateral military actions, and called for the protection of global supply chains threatened by arbitrary tariffs.

With growing tensions between the West and the Global South, President Trump’s fresh warning could significantly impact already strained global trade relations, especially as India, Indonesia, UAE, and Brazil—key US trade partners—are all members of BRICS.