fazTimes media: Washington, D.C. – In a move that might change global trade and how countries work together, U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will add a 10% tax on countries that, in his words, “support anti-American actions by BRICS.” This strong message was shared on Sunday through Trump’s social media site, Truth Social, as leaders from the expanded BRICS group meet in Rio de Janeiro for their yearly meeting.

Trump wrote, There will be no exceptions to this rule. “Thank you for paying attention to this.” The BRICS Summit 2025, which is being held in Brazil, has gotten a lot of attention because of its larger group and growing influence around the world.

The group originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, but now also includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. Some experts are describing this new group as distinct from the original BRICS members.

A Threat Without Clarity

President Trump's message was clear in tone but not in details. He failed to clarify the precise definition of "anti-American policies" or identify the countries that could initially face the impact. This lack of clear information has made it hard for foreign policy experts and trade analysts to understand what really happens next.

Reuters reports that the White House hasn’t yet made clear what the rules are or when the new tariffs will start. This has already caused worry in international markets, with stock indexes in Asia and Europe dropping on Monday because people are afraid a trade war might start.

BBC News says leaders from several BRICS countries said they are “concerned” and “disappointed” about the U.S. warning. They want the U.S. to stick to open and fair global trade rules.

A Growing BRICS, A Shrinking Consensus

The 2025 BRICS summit is a big moment for the group. The group is growing by adding countries from the Middle East that have lots of oil and countries from Africa with large populations. This makes the group more powerful in terms of politics and money. Right now, all the BRICS countries together have almost half the world’s people and about a third of the world’s total economic output, based on World Bank numbers.

At the start of the summit, the leaders talked about lessening their reliance on the U.S. dollar. They also wanted to increase trade between BRICS countries using their currencies. They also began a new digital platform for a BRICS development bank, which will help fund projects like building roads and clean energy in their countries.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said, “The world is not just one big power.

Economic teamwork must match that.

India finds itself in a tough position. As part of BRICS and a key partner of the U.S., the country is now facing pressure to handle its economic and diplomatic relationships carefully. The Modi government hasn’t given an official reply to Trump’s remarks yet, but experts think India is likely to take a balanced approach.

“India doesn’t want to look like it’s giving in to outside pressure, and it also doesn’t want to harm its relationship with the U.S.,” said Professor C. Raja Mohan, a well-known expert on India’s foreign policy. “This is a test of India’s ability to follow its foreign policy path.”

In recent years, India has worked more closely with BRICS while also strengthening ties with Western groups like the Quad, which includes the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia. Experts say India’s involvement in both groups is important for managing the interests of the Global South and the West.

Economic Risks of a Tariff Escalation

Trump's latest move suggests he's going back to his "America First" trade approach, which was a big part of his first time in office. His government has already put tariffs on products from China, Europe, and even Canada, causing several trade conflicts.

According to The Financial Times, economists are worried that putting tariffs on your own without talking to others could:

Mess up global supply chains, especially in important areas like energy and technology.
Cause other countries to put their tariffs on American goods, which would make things more expensive for U.S. shoppers.
Make the global trade system, which is based on rules, weaker.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) supports this system. Dr. Lydia Chen, a top economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said, "This action would be against our interests.

BRICS Pushes Forward Despite Threats

Even though there are threats from the U.S. tariffs, BRICS leaders kept moving forward with their plans in Rio. Al Jazeera reported that one of the main topics this year is “Resilience through Unity,” which focuses on:

Collaboration in energy, particularly in the realm of renewable technologies, is a key focus.
Building digital infrastructure, like e-commerce platforms that connect countries.
They are also collaborating on health-related projects, including the development of vaccines and conducting medical research.
The goal is to make the currencies of BRICS nations more stable in order to reduce their dependence on Western money.

China’s President Xi Jinping spoke at the summit online and said, “BRICS needs to stay strong even when there are outside pressures. It is crucial to collaborate rather than engage in conflict.

Backlash from Allies and Business leaders.

Trump's comments also caused criticism from various groups in the U.S. Various groups in the U.S., such as American exporters and some Republican lawmakers, criticized Trump's remarks.

“Punishing countries just for taking part in international talks is not smart,” said Senator Lindsey Graham.

He stressed the importance of working with important partners, like India and the UAE, not pushing them away. Big business groups also expressed worries.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said the suggested tariff was unclear and could hurt American jobs. “The administration should focus on talking things out, not take actions that could cause problems,” the Chamber said in a statement.

A New Cold War?

Some experts are warning that the growing tension between the U.S. and BRICS might be the start of a new kind of Cold War. This one isn't about military groups but about economic partnerships.

Dr. Fareed Zakaria told CNN, “We are seeing the global economic system breaking apart. The U.S. and China-led groups could end up building separate systems, like payment methods, trade paths, and technology networks.”

Whether this split gets worse or slows down soon will depend on how President Trump acts on his warnings and how the BRICS countries react.

Final Thoughts: A Divided World or a Multipolar One?

Trump's threat of a 10% tariff isn't just about being tough on trade—it shows a bigger fight for who leads the economy in a world that's changing fast. As countries in the developing world grow stronger by working together through groups like BRICS, the old power centers are starting to change how they plan and act.

The White House may soon release more information, and governments may be in secret talks. But right now, things are still unclear. Businesses in South Asia and other regions that rely on U.S. exports could face significant challenges.

U.S. exports, this tariff could mean real problems. If it happens, prices could go up, exports might slow down, and companies might need to change their usual ways of working with suppliers. Whether BRICS will give in or become even stronger is something only time and maybe diplomacy can tell us.

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We’ve compared this report with coverage from major news outlets around the world, including BBC News, Reuters, Bloomberg, South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, NDTV, The Economic Times, and The Indian Express.

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