U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on countries aligning themselves with what he described as “anti-American” policies of the BRICS alliance.
The warning follows a strongly worded joint declaration from the BRICS 2025 Summit, which condemned recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
The BRICS Summit, held in Brazil, brought together 10 member nations: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. During the summit, the group collectively denounced the American and Israeli military actions against Iranian nuclear and military installations, labeling the strikes “illegal.”
Reacting to the BRICS criticism, President Trump signaled a hardline response. “Any country siding with anti-American agendas under BRICS will face consequences,” he stated, confirming the implementation of a 10 percent tariff on those nations.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also used the platform to call out the perceived hypocrisy in how acts of terrorism are treated globally. Modi criticized the international community’s double standards, particularly in relation to the Global South. The BRICS joint statement reflected this sentiment, condemning the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and urging strong action against cross-border terrorism, terror financing, and safe havens.
“We urge zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering it,” the declaration said. It also indirectly criticized Washington’s trade policies, condemning the “indiscriminate rising of tariffs,” warning that such actions risk destabilizing global trade and disrupting supply chains.
BRICS leaders further condemned unilateral military actions in the Gaza Strip, echoing growing frustration in the Global South over the lack of multilateralism in international conflict resolution.
Meanwhile, Trump reaffirmed his resolve to implement tariffs swiftly. With the current tariff pause set to expire soon, he stated that formal letters targeting 12 countries are “signed and ready.” Despite skepticism from some quarters dismissing the announcement as a bluff, Trump declared that the letters would be officially issued at 12 PM EST on Monday.
Earlier, on April 2, Trump had introduced revised and increased tariff rates for all U.S. trading partners. Amid international criticism and a breakdown of several trade negotiations, he had granted a 90-day pause on enforcement, later extending it until July 9.