Trump Warns BRICS Nations, Threatens New Tariffs Over ‘Anti-American’ Policies

President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to BRICS countries, accusing the bloc of pursuing “anti-American policies” and threatening to impose new tariffs. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, July 7, 2025, Trump announced that the U.S. would begin sending out tariff letters to dozens of nations and suggested an additional 10% duty on countries aligning with BRICS. He did not, however, specify which policies he deemed “anti-American.”

The BRICS bloc, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE, with additional partners like Nigeria and Thailand. The group actively advocates for a multipolar world order aimed at reducing Western dominance, and recently criticized the rise of “unilateral tariff measures,” a thinly veiled reference to U.S. trade practices.

Trump’s move comes as the administration’s 90-day tariff pause is set to end on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that approximately 100 letters would be dispatched, many targeting smaller nations with minimal trade, thereby locking in a baseline 10% tariff. While Trump suggested rates could climb as high as 70%, Bessent clarified that major trading partners would not face these highest levels. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed that the tariffs are slated to take effect on August 1, emphasizing the administration’s application of “maximum pressure.”

Trump asserted that most countries would either secure new trade deals or receive tariff letters by July 9. He cited recent agreements with the UK, China, and Vietnam as examples of successful negotiations, but cautioned that nations failing to negotiate would revert to previous, higher tariff rates.

The recent BRICS summit in Brazil added to the geopolitical friction. Member nations expressed concerns over attacks on Iran and condemned strikes on civilian infrastructure, indirectly alluding to Israeli and U.S. military operations. Discussions at the summit also touched on cross-border payments, though the idea of a shared BRICS currency, which gained traction in 2023, appears to have largely faded.

In response to Trump’s latest threat, China’s Foreign Ministry defended BRICS as a cooperative platform not aimed at any specific country. Beijing warned that trade wars and tariffs ultimately serve no one’s interests.