Trump threatens new tariffs on nations backing BRICS as trade deadline looms

Donald Trump president of the United States  has threatened to slap fresh tariffs on any nation that aligns itself with what he calls the “anti-American” policies of the BRICS alliance, escalating tensions ahead of a key deadline for global trade talks.

In a flurry of posts on Truth Social over the weekend, Trump warned that countries siding with BRICS — a group of major emerging economies including China, Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa — will face an additional 10 percent tariff on their exports to the US. “There will be no exceptions to this policy,” the president wrote.

“I am pleased to announce that the UNITED STATES TARIFF Letters, and/or Deals, with various Countries from around the World, will be delivered starting 12:00 P.M. (Eastern), Monday, July 7,” Trump said, adding that as many as 15 letters could be sent to foreign governments outlining new rates if they fail to reach a deal before the looming deadline.

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The White House had previously set July 9 as the cutoff for countries to agree to fresh trade terms, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed on Monday that tariffs will come into force on August 1 if negotiations collapse.

“We’ve had a lot of people change their tune in terms of negotiations,” Bessent told CNBC, saying his inbox was “full” of new offers and proposals over the weekend.

Since returning to the White House this year, Trump has unleashed a sweeping series of import tariffs on goods from around the globe, arguing that higher taxes on foreign imports will protect American industries and jobs. In April, on what he dubbed “Liberation Day”, he announced a wave of new duties — some as high as 50 percent — but later suspended the most punitive measures for a 90-day negotiating window, which expires this week.

Read also: Trump says tariff letters to 12 countries signed, going out today

So far, only the United Kingdom, Vietnam and, partially, China have managed to strike deals to avoid the harshest tariffs. Talks with the European Union remain tense. Brussels is considering extending the current provisional 10 percent tariff on most EU goods exported to the US and is also negotiating to lower punitive duties of up to 50 percent on steel and aluminium.

A spokesperson for the European Commission said its president Ursula von der Leyen had a “good exchange” with Trump in recent days. Just weeks ago, Trump threatened to slap a 50 percent tariff on EU goods if Brussels did not compromise.

The BRICS group, founded in 2009, has long championed a multipolar global order that reduces Western economic dominance. It recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, with a further ten partner countries — including Belarus, Nigeria, Thailand and Vietnam. It remains unclear whether Saudi Arabia has formally accepted an invitation to join.

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Leaders gathered in Brazil for a BRICS summit this weekend, issuing a pointed declaration expressing “serious concerns” about the “rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures” — a thinly veiled rebuke of the Trump administration’s aggressive trade stance.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed on Monday that the US will begin sending tariff letters from midday, warning countries that fail to comply with US terms that steeper rates will come into effect from  August 1.

Asked about the precise figures, Trump was blunt: “They’re going to be tariffs. The tariffs are going to be tariffs.”
With a final flurry of negotiations now under way, the world’s trading partners are bracing for a turbulent month ahead. As Bessent put it: “We expect a busy couple of days.”