BRICS Condemns Tariff Hikes and Attacks on Iran, Avoids Direct Criticism of Trump as Trade Tensions Escalate
by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – The BRICS bloc of emerging economies issued a pointed yet cautious declaration Sunday condemning rising global tariffs and foreign attacks on Iran, while notably avoiding any direct criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, despite his announcement of an additional 10% tariff on nations aligning with what he termed “Anti-American policies of BRICS.”
The 15-member group, which recently expanded to include Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE, convened for a two-day summit in Rio de Janeiro, marked by the high-profile absences of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin addressed the summit via videolink, continuing to avoid international travel under the shadow of a warrant from the International Criminal Court.
In its 31-page joint statement, the bloc expressed “serious concerns” over what it called “unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures” that it said violated World Trade Organization rules and threatened to destabilize global trade. The declaration, which refrained from naming the United States directly, warned that such measures “disrupt global supply chains and introduce uncertainty.”
President Trump responded swiftly on his Truth Social platform: “Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10 percent Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy.” He later said up to 15 countries would begin receiving tariff letters starting July 7, and warned tariffs could rise further if trade deals aren’t reached by August 1.
Middle East Tensions Shadow BRICS Agenda
The group also condemned recent attacks on Iran—widely understood to have been conducted by Israel and the United States—but carefully avoided naming either nation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, attending in place of President Masoud Pezeshkian, urged members to strongly condemn Israel and hold both Tel Aviv and Washington accountable for “grave rights violations.”
“The aftermath of the war will not be limited to one country,” Araghchi said. “The entire region and beyond will be damaged.”
While BRICS leaders expressed “grave concern” for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, they also reaffirmed support for a two-state solution—a position Iran later publicly contested. In a Telegram post, Araghchi stated that Iran “does not support a two-state solution that has repeatedly failed,” signaling ideological divisions even within the bloc.
Russia’s foreign ministry took a sharper tone, explicitly blaming the United States and Israel for “unprovoked military strikes” on Iran in a separate Telegram statement.
Trade Pressures Mount as BRICS Seeks Global Reform
The summit comes as President Trump escalates a global trade offensive, having already implemented a 10% baseline tariff in April and warning of reciprocal tariffs to address U.S. trade deficits. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified that if deals are not reached by August 1, tariffs will default to the harsher April 2 levels.
The BRICS bloc, founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has evolved into a growing geopolitical force with the inclusion of several Global South nations and ten new “strategic partners,” including Vietnam, Cuba, and Kazakhstan. However, internal divisions and the absence of key figures have raised doubts about its ability to present a united front.
João Alfredo Nyegray, a professor of geopolitics in Brazil, said the bloc “missed an opportunity to show it could be a coherent alternative to Western-dominated institutions,” citing low-level delegations from major new members and a lack of consensus on key issues.
In response to Trump’s threats, South Africa denied being anti-American, with trade ministry spokesman Kaamil Alli emphasizing the country’s willingness to negotiate. “Our conversations remain constructive and fruitful,” he said.
Brazil Walks a Tightrope Amid Domestic and Global Pressures
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who hosted the summit, used the platform to criticize NATO’s decision to increase defense spending but kept his focus on less provocative issues, including health, climate, and trade cooperation among Global South nations. Analysts say Brazil is treading carefully to avoid economic retaliation from the United States.
“The Brazilian government wants to avoid drawing the attention of the Trump administration and protect its trade flows,” said Ana Garcia, a professor at the Federal Rural University in Rio.
The summit also witnessed outside protests—from Amnesty International opposing Brazil’s offshore oil drilling plans to a pro-Israel NGO planting rainbow flags on Ipanema beach to criticize Iran’s stance on LGBTQ rights.
Despite such tensions, Bruce Scheidl of the University of São Paulo said the summit provided one clear benefit: “It gives emerging countries a chance to respond to economic coercion by building alternative trade channels and partnerships.”
With the next tariff deadline looming and the BRICS coalition facing growing internal fractures, the coming weeks may test the resilience of both Trump’s global trade strategy and the bloc’s ambitions for a new world order.
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