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Donald Trump warned that any country that embraces the “anti-American policies” of the Brics bloc of developing nations will face an extra 10 per cent tariff on exports to the US, in a new broadside against America’s trading partners.
Trump issued the threat on Truth Social on Sunday night as the Brics group — which originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa but has since expanded to include other nations — met in Brazil at the weekend.
“Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!,” Trump said.
At the Brics summit, members condemned military attacks on Iran and unilateral tariffs, but did not mention the US by name. In the past, Brics countries have discussed moving away from the dollar as the reserve currency.
The US president did not specify what countries or policies he was objecting to, but his warning came as Washington prepares for the end this week of a 90-day pause on steep levies on many countries announced by Trump on his so-called liberation day at the start of April.
Trump has promised to start sending letters to countries that have not reached deals with the US on Monday, telling them what their tariff level will be from August 1.
Scott Bessent, US Treasury secretary, had earlier said that US tariffs on imports from some countries will “boomerang” back to the steep April levels unless they quickly offer concessions and strike deals with Washington.
The higher levies set in April were paused until this week to allow room for talks.
However, Trump has struck only three trade pacts during this period — with the UK, China and Vietnam — leaving the rest of the global economy, including top US allies such as the EU, Japan and South Korea, in limbo and facing renewed threats of high tariffs.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Bessent said Trump would inform countries that failed to reach agreements with the US that higher levies on their imports would take effect next month.
“I’m not going to give away the playbook. We’re going to be very busy over the next 72 hours,” Bessent said. “President Trump is going to be sending letters to some of our trading partners saying that if you don’t move things along, then on August 1st, you will boomerang back to your April 2nd tariff level.”
Speaking to reporters on Sunday evening, Trump said there would be “a combination of letters, and some deals” in the next few days.
“I think we’ll have most countries done by July 9, either a letter or a deal,” Trump said, flanked by commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, reiterating that the levies would take effect on August 1. Later, on Truth Social, Trump said the letters would start going out at noon Eastern time on Monday.
Speaking to ABC on Sunday, Stephen Miran, chair of the White House council of economic advisers, said he was hearing “good things” about the negotiations with Europe and India.
The Trump administration’s initial pause on the higher levies three months ago was forced by a fiercely negative reaction from both US equity and bond investors, who feared that American ultra-protectionism would lead to both slower growth, if not a recession, and higher inflation.
However, after Trump U-turned on the higher levies, equity markets rebounded strongly while bond markets eventually stabilised. The possibility of a rapid return to exceedingly high tariffs on many countries could reignite those concerns.
