Washington, D.C. : In a fiery new warning that could rattle global markets, former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on any nation that aligns with the policies of BRICS, a coalition he described as “anti-American.”
The move comes just days after BRICS leaders sharply criticized U.S. and Israeli military actions in Iran and reiterated their stance on the Gaza conflict.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump declared:
“Any country aligning themselves with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The timing of Trump’s statement is significant. It comes as the U.S. prepares to send out new tariff notices to multiple countries, with his self-declared 90-day moratorium on trade duties set to expire this week. In a follow-up post, Trump confirmed that “letters will be delivered on Monday.”
The warning marks a sharp escalation in Trump’s protectionist rhetoric, potentially reshaping diplomatic ties and trade strategies among nations that have shown interest in deepening relations with BRICS—a bloc that now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and several newly admitted members.
BRICS Blasts U.S. and Israel Over Iran Strikes
The tariff threat follows a weekend BRICS summit in Brazil, where member nations issued a strongly worded joint statement condemning U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran since June 13. Without naming Washington directly, the BRICS statement read:
“We condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran… which constitute a violation of international law and the UN Charter… We express grave concern over the subsequent escalation in the Middle East.”
The leaders also denounced attacks on civilian infrastructure and nuclear sites under IAEA supervision, asserting that such acts endangered both human life and environmental safety. BRICS further emphasized the need to uphold international nuclear safeguards, even during armed conflict.
Gaza and Palestine in Focus
The BRICS bloc also addressed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, reaffirming their support for the Palestinian cause. The joint declaration stated:
“The Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory… We reaffirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to their independent State of Palestine.”
They stressed the importance of reuniting Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority and called for renewed diplomatic efforts under the auspices of the UN Security Council.
Rising Global Tensions
Trump’s tariff ultimatum could further strain U.S. relations with emerging economies increasingly turning to BRICS as a counterweight to Western dominance. With many nations seeking strategic autonomy amid shifting geopolitical fault lines, Trump’s hardline stance may either deter alignments with BRICS—or accelerate them.
Observers now await the list of countries set to receive U.S. tariff letters this week, as the global trade and diplomatic order inches closer to a possible realignment.
