News Desk
BEIJING: Beijing has pushed back against President Donald Trump’s warning of a 10 percent additional tariff on countries siding with BRICS, calling it an unacceptable use of economic pressure as a weapon. The Chinese foreign ministry responded firmly on Monday, stating that weaponizing tariffs for political purposes serves no one’s interest and undermines global trade cooperation.
The reaction came after Trump, during remarks over the weekend, threatened to impose an extra 10 percent tariff on any country that aligns with what he described as BRICS’ “anti-American policies.” The US president accused the BRICS bloc — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — of promoting a vision that undermines American global leadership. In a statement issued in Beijing, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry condemned the remarks, reiterating that “tariffs should not be used as tools of coercion.”
The spokesperson added that global trade should be based on mutual respect and rules, not intimidation. Trump also reportedly instructed that letters be sent to multiple governments warning of consequences should they back BRICS on what he called “anti-US agendas.” He made it clear that no country would be given exceptions.
This latest round of diplomatic tension signals the deepening rift between the US and a number of emerging economies, especially as BRICS continues to expand its geopolitical footprint and economic partnerships beyond the West. Beijing’s firm stance highlights a broader resistance to what many in the Global South see as unilateralism cloaked in economic policy.
