President Donald Trump has reignited global trade tensions by threatening a 10% tariff on any country that aligns itself with the BRICS alliance and its “anti-American policies.” The warning, issued via his social media platform, comes amid growing concerns in Washington about BRICS’ efforts to challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar in global trade.
The BRICS bloc—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with recent additions like Iran and Saudi Arabia—has been working to establish an alternative global financial framework. Trump’s statement labeled the group’s economic strategies as direct threats to U.S. sovereignty and vowed swift retaliation through tariffs.
“Any nation supporting BRICS efforts to undermine American interests will face an additional 10% tariff,” Trump declared. The announcement follows his earlier move to implement a baseline 10% tariff on all imports under his “America First Trade Reset” policy, with harsher penalties for countries deemed economically hostile to the U.S.
The global reaction has been swift.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva condemned the remarks as interference in sovereign decision-making, while Indian and South African officials have urged restraint, warning that tariff wars risk deepening economic divides.
Economists caution that such aggressive trade actions may accelerate global de-dollarization, pushing nations to abandon the U.S. dollar in favor of local or alternative currencies. Markets in emerging economies reacted with volatility as investors weighed the impact of renewed protectionism.
Analysts suggest Trump’s posture is part of a broader strategy to reassert U.S. economic dominance—but warn it could also isolate the U.S. further from a rapidly evolving global trade order.
