Trump threatens 10% tariffs over BRICS policies
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US President Donald Trump threatens a 10% tariff on nations siding with BRICS trade policies, as his administration prepares to impose April tariffs on July 9.
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President Donald Trump walks toward the media to speak with them before boarding Air Force One, at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, NJ, on July 6, 2025 (AP)
US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday night that any nation "aligning themselves with the anti-American policies of BRICS" would face "an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff," emphasizing there would be "no exceptions to this policy."
Trump did not provide further details, but his remarks came in the wake of a statement from BRICS, the 11-member bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expressing deep concern over the rising use of unilateral trade restrictions. The bloc warned that such measures not only undermine global trade but also violate the principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO), threatening the stability and fairness of the international economic system.
The BRICS bloc avoided directly mentioning Trump while denouncing tariff policies and opposing military strikes on Iran, where US forces targeted nuclear facilities in backing "Israel," as the 12-day war on Iran suddenly concluded.
The statement published by BRICS, as it held its first leaders' summit since 2009 in Brazil on Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the summit in person.
This comes after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated earlier Sunday that nations failing to reach trade agreements with the US by August 1 should anticipate tariff rates reverting to those outlined in April.
Trump moves forward with Liberation Day tariffs
On July 4, US President Donald Trump revealed he had signed 12 tariff documents scheduled for delivery the following week, marking another step toward enacting his administration's next phase of trade measures.
During a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump explained, "I signed some letters and they'll go out on Monday, probably 12," adding that the specific countries receiving these documents would be revealed simultaneously with their delivery.
The tariff notifications arrived shortly before the July 9 implementation date, when the new duties, which Trump stated will range from 10% to 70%, are set to be imposed.
The tariffs apply to numerous nations, including Taiwan and European Union members, originating from a wider April initiative that introduced a 10% levy on imports from almost all trade partners, while also incorporating progressively higher rates for certain targeted countries.
Save the date: July 9
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on July 6 that the United States is close to completing several significant trade agreements just before the July 9 deadline when increased tariffs are scheduled to be implemented.
"President Trump's going to be sending letters to some of our trading partners saying that if you don't move things along, then on August 1 you will boomerang back to your April 2 tariff level. So I think we're going to see a lot of deals very quickly," Bessent stated.
Additionally, Bessent emphasized that August 1 represents not an extended negotiation period but rather a definitive implementation date for the tariffs, telling CNN "We are saying this is when it's happening. If you want to speed things up, have at it. If you want to go back to the old rate, that's your choice", clarifying the administration's position on the timeline.
