BRICS vs Trump? Summit leaders reject 'anti-American' label and call for fair trade

BRICS leaders said their grouping was not aimed at any country, and instead positioned it as a platform for inclusive, fair, and cooperative global economic engagement.

As the BRICS summit kicked off in Brazil on Monday, developing nations in the bloc pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s accusation that they are promoting “anti-American” policies. Trump made the remark late Sunday while threatening to impose an additional 10% tariff on goods from countries aligned with BRICS.

But BRICS leaders said their grouping was not aimed at any country, and instead positioned it as a platform for inclusive, fair, and cooperative global economic engagement.

Not anti-American’: BRICS responds to tariff threat

Trump’s warning comes days before his July 9 deadline to finalise dozens of new trade deals. Countries that fail to make progress, he warned, could face "retaliatory tariffs" beginning August 1.

But BRICS members were quick to respond:

China dismissed the charge, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning saying tariffs should not be used as a tool of coercion. “BRICS does not target any country,” she said.

South Africa, which earlier faced a 30 percent tariff that was later suspended, reaffirmed it is “not anti-American.” A trade ministry spokesperson said that talks with Washington remain “constructive and fruitful.”

Russia said its cooperation within BRICS reflects a “common world view” that is not directed against third countries, a Kremlin spokesperson stated.

Brazil and India have yet to issue formal statements. However, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in his opening address, steered clear of the controversy and focused on environmental and public health issues, the summit's official agenda.

Why Trump’s threat matters

Many BRICS countries and partner nations depend heavily on trade with the US. Trump’s warning that he may slap 10 percent tariffs on countries “aligning” with BRICS came just hours after BRICS leaders issued a joint statement criticising rising trade barriers.

The statement condemned the recent bombing of Iran (a BRICS member) and expressed concern that unilateral tariff hikes were threatening the global economy, a veiled reference to Trump’s policies.

A Brazilian diplomat told reporters that the threat only highlighted the growing importance of BRICS as a voice for developing economies seeking fairer global rules.

Who's in the BRICS club now?

BRICS was launched in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined soon after. Last year, the group expanded to include:

Egypt

Ethiopia

Iran

Indonesia

United Arab Emirates

Saudi Arabia, though invited, has yet to formally join and is attending as a partner country. More than 30 nations have expressed interest in joining either as full members or partners, according to summit officials.

A counterweight to G7 and G20?

As Western-led forums like the G7 and G20 struggle with internal divisions, BRICS has positioned itself as a platform for multilateral diplomacy, especially amid a backdrop of global conflicts and growing protectionism.

Indonesian minister Airlangga Hartarto, who is attending the summit in Brazil, is flying to Washington next to advance trade talks, highlighting how even BRICS members must balance diplomacy with economic pragmatism.

Malaysia, also present as a partner, stressed that it pursues an independent economic policy and is not guided by ideological alliances, responding to concerns that association with BRICS could trigger trade penalties.

What’s next?

Trump’s warning about punishing countries that join or support BRICS adds a new dimension to global trade tensions. While his team scrambles to finalise dozens of trade deals before the July 9 deadline, many in the BRICS bloc are calling for diplomacy and fairness, not retaliation and division.

Whether this growing bloc can truly serve as a counterweight to traditional Western power structures remains to be seen. But this week’s summit in Rio de Janeiro has made one thing clear: BRICS is no longer just an acronym, it’s a statement.