Senior diplomats from BRICS countries gathered Monday in Brazil to coordinate a unified response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating trade measures, which have rattled global markets and drawn retaliatory actions from key economies.
United Front Against U.S. Tariffs
The two-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro, attended by foreign ministers including Russia’s Sergei Lavrov and China’s Wang Yi, aims to reinforce multilateral trade systems amid Trump’s aggressive tariffs. Since returning to office in January, Trump has imposed a 10% blanket tariff on imports from dozens of countries, while targeting Chinese goods with duties as high as 145%. Beijing has retaliated with 125% tariffs on U.S. products.
“The ministers are negotiating a declaration aimed at reaffirming the centrality and importance of the multilateral trading system,” said Mauricio Lyrio, Brazil’s BRICS representative.
Expanding Influence
Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS has expanded to include Iran, Egypt, and the UAE. The bloc now represents nearly half the world’s population and 39% of global GDP.
Key Agenda Items
- Trade Defense: Discussions will focus on mitigating Trump’s threats of 100% tariffs on BRICS nations if they undermine the U.S. dollar’s dominance.
- Ukraine War: The group may address Trump’s push for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
- Climate Change: Preparations for November’s COP30 summit in Brazil’s Amazonian city of Belém will be prioritized.
Broader Engagement
On Tuesday, nine partner nations—including Cuba, Malaysia, and Nigeria—will join the talks to discuss shared economic challenges.
The meeting precedes July’s BRICS leaders’ summit, where long-term strategies against U.S. protectionism are expected to be finalized.
