Trump Threatens Extra 10% Tariff for Countries ‘Aligning’ Themselves With ‘Anti-American’ BRICS Policies

President Donald Trump has threatened additional tariffs on any country that supports the “anti-American” policies of the BRICS group, a political and diplomatic coordination forum consisting of 11 countries.

“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,” Trump said via Truth Social on Sunday night.

Trump did not explicitly specify what constitutes “anti-American” policies in this instance, but he has previously warned the group not to create a new BRICS currency or "back any other currency to replace the mighty U.S. dollar."

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed Trump's threat at the end of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.

"The world has changed. We don't want an emperor," he told reporters. "This [BRICS] is a set of countries that wants to find another way of organizing the world from the economic perspective. I think that's why the BRICS are making people uncomfortable."

The threat came after Trump announced that the long-awaited tariff deals and letters discussing those moves with other countries would be unveiled from 12pm ET on Monday, ahead of the July 9 deadline for the pause on his tariffs. (While countries are encouraged to have their agreements in place by July 9, the Trump Administration has since clarified that the higher tariffs won't go into effect until August.)

Since midday on Monday, Trump has posted a slew of trade agreement letters on social media. He set a 25% tax on goods imported from South Korea and Japan, and set new tariff rates on a dozen other nations.

Prior to this week, Trump had only announced deals with three countries: the United Kingdom, China, and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Trump's direct threat against BRICS loomed over the latter part of the proceedings at the intergovernmental organization’s two-day summit in Brazil. On Sunday, leaders from attending countries had signed a joint declaration titled “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” On Monday, they largely maintained that united front in the face of Trump's threats.

Read More: The U.S. Has a Long History of Tariffs. Here’s How Trump’s Compare

Here’s what you need to know in light of Trump’s remarks:

What is BRICS?

BRICS—which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—was founded in 2001, with the purpose of serving as a forum for emerging economies and less developed countries to cooperate on key issues such as trade, security, and diplomacy.

Brazil, Russia, India, and China were original members, with South Africa invited to join in 2010. Since then, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia have been welcomed aboard, bringing the total to 11 countries.

The group also established a relationship with strategic partner countries at last year’s summit, aligning itself with Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Nigeria. Vietnam was formerly announced as the 10th partner country in June.

BRICS is widely seen as a challenge to the unipolar global power dynamic, in which the United States is regarded as the lead superpower. Instead, BRICS members have pushed a multipolar power setting, in which various countries lead global cooperation efforts.

But some experts argue that the U.S. position as the standout superpower has come to an end and that the transition into a multipolar power is already underway.

BRICS says it is responsible for 24% of the world's commercial exchanges and represents 39% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

On the opening day of this year’s summit, a joint declaration from BRICs leaders called out the “indiscriminate rising of tariffs,” without directly referencing the U.S. or Trump.

“We voice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO [World Trade Organization] rules,” claimed the declaration.

BRICs nations also doubled down on how they want to shape future global power and trade.  

“We want to emphasize the importance of the global south as a driver of positive change, especially amid significant international challenges—including escalating geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, accelerated technological transformation, protectionist measures, and migration challenges,” the group said.

Read More: Key Takeaways From the 2025 NATO Summit

How have BRICS leaders responded to Trump’s tariffs threat?

Brazil's President is not the only BRICS leader to take a stance against Trump's public threat.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday denied that BRICS works to undermine other countries.

Peskov said the Kremlin was aware of Trump’s latest tariff threat regarding “anti-American policies.”

“We have indeed seen such statements by President Trump, but it is very important to note here that the uniqueness of a group like BRICS is that it is a group of countries that share common approaches and a common world view on how to cooperate based on their own interests,” said Peskov. “And this cooperation within BRICS has never been, and will never be, directed against any third countries.”

China's foreign ministry also reacted, saying it opposes tariffs being used as a tool in an effort to coerce others. "China has been very clear about its position on U.S. tariff hikes. Trade wars and tariff wars have no winners. Protectionism will lead nowhere," said spokesperson Mao Ning.

South Africa's trade ministry spokesperson Kaamil Alli is quoted as telling Reuters: "We still await formal communication from the U.S. in respect our trade deal, but our conversations remain constructive and fruitful. As we have communicated previously, we are not anti-American."

Indonesia’s coordinating minister of economic affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, is set to travel to the U.S. on Monday after the BRICS summit concludes in Brazil. Tariffs will almost certainly be at the forefront of discussions once they land.

Trump has previously threatened BRICS with tariffs. In November, after winning the presidential election, he threatened a 100% tariff on BRICS nations should they “move away” from the U.S. dollar.

“The idea that the BRICS countries are trying to move away from the dollar while we stand by and watch is over,” Trump warned. “We require a commitment from these countries that they will neither create a new BRICS currency, nor back any other currency to replace the mighty U.S. dollar, or they will face 100% tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. economy.”

What is the current status of Trump's tariffs and when will they go into effect?

When Trump unveiled his “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, he set a 10% base charge for most countries, with some receiving additional higher rates.

Amid mass panic, recession fears, and disapproval from world leaders, Trump announced a 90-day extension for most countries, delaying the start date for all but the 10% levy to July 9.

This allowed time for negotiations, some of which fared better than others.

Trump took to social media in May and accused the European Union (E.U.) of stalling talks. "Our discussions with them are going nowhere," he said, threatening to place a "straight 50% tariff" on the E.U. starting June 1. After a phone call with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, Trump reneged and agreed to go back to the July 9 deadline.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said he expects to have “most countries done by July 9,” explaining that progress will be made by either a “letter or a deal.”

Standing beside him, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick interjected to clarify that while July 9 remains the date for trade agreements to be agreed upon, the higher tariffs are not scheduled to go into effect until August.

“They go into effect on Aug. 1. Tariffs go into effect Aug. 1, but the President is setting the rates and the deals right now,” Lutnick said.

The three-week extension, of sorts, allows countries a slight reprieve as they prepare for the tariffs agreed upon with Trump.

But it seems that even the Aug. 1 deadline could have some movement, depending on the circumstance.

When asked by a reporter if the new August date was a hard deadline, Trump replied: "I would say firm, but not 100% firm. If they [a country] call up and they say, 'we'd like to do something a different way,' we're going to be open to that."