The BRICS alliance has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the bloc is “anti-American,” pushing back forcefully on Monday, July 7, 2025.
Trump, on Sunday night, warned of fresh 10% tariffs targeting member countries over what he called “hostile trade agendas.”
The warning comes just days before the U.S. deadline to finalize broad retaliatory tariffs on international trade partners.
But BRICS members say Trump’s threats reflect insecurity, not fact.
“We are not anti-American,” South Africa’s trade ministry spokesperson Kaamil Alli said during a media briefing.
He described recent talks with U.S. officials as “constructive and fruitful,” dismissing Trump’s accusations as “unhelpful.”
China echoed the sentiment.
“Tariffs should never be tools of coercion,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning in Beijing.
She stressed that BRICS champions “win-win cooperation” and does “not target any country.”
The Kremlin backed the position, calling BRICS unity a “shared worldview” unrelated to hostility toward the West.
“BRICS will never act against third countries,” said a Kremlin spokesperson on Monday.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stayed neutral, choosing to focus on summit priorities like climate and health.
He declined to respond directly to Trump but hinted at deeper unity within the bloc.
“We’re here to build, not destroy,” Lula told reporters at the BRICS venue in Rio de Janeiro.
India and Brazil withheld official responses, but a senior Brazilian diplomat called Trump’s threats “evidence of why BRICS matters.”
“Global trade should be fair and rules-based, not dictated by threats,” the diplomat said off-record.
Indonesia’s Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, attending as a new BRICS entrant, plans to visit Washington for further talks.
He’s expected to join ongoing U.S. negotiations on tariff policy starting Monday, according to government officials.
Trade experts warn that rising tensions may trigger another global tariff war, hurting both developed and developing economies.
BRICS leaders say they remain open to dialogue but will not compromise sovereignty under pressure.
With the July 9 deadline looming, the world watches to see if diplomacy or disruption wins.
