BRICS countries’ foreign ministers, such as China and Russia, on Tuesday criticized the “revival of trade protectionism” at the Rio de Janeiro summit dominated by President Donald Trump’s tariff rampage.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, whose country is presiding over BRICS in its rotating presidency, told the 11-member bloc it reaffirmed its “strong rejection” of protectionism, stopping short of a direct reference to Donald Trump.
Trump’s Tariff Onslaught Sparks Global Alarm
Since coming back to the White House in January, the American leader has imposed a blanket 10 percent tariff on dozens of nations but China is subjected to up to 145 percent duties on most goods.
Beijing retaliated with tariffs of 125 percent on American imports. The trade conflict between the two largest economies has alarmed global markets and drawn sharp criticism from international partners. While Washington defends its stance as a move to protect domestic manufacturing and jobs, other world powers view it as a blow to multilateral trade rules and economic cooperation.
BRICS Emerges as Voice Against Western Economic Pressure
Brazil, Russia, India, and China created the BRICS group in 2009, later adding Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. It now serves as a principal arena where non-Western powers conduct debate.
Together, BRICS represents a significant portion of global GDP and population, and the bloc has increasingly positioned itself as a counterweight to Western-led institutions such as the G7 and the IMF.
Foreign ministers who met in Rio three months prior to a summit of leaders did not make a joint declaration but Vieira reported there was “absolute consensus” regarding the topic of “trade conflicts and tariffs.”
The unity on trade among BRICS members signals a growing resolve to challenge what they see as unfair global economic practices and revive momentum for fairer, more inclusive trade norms.
