Trump Hits BRICS With Tariff Threat

In a broadening escalation of trade talk, the former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that all BRICS countries, including India, will be charged with a 10% tariff on products sold to America.

"If India is a member of BRICS, then they will have to pay," Trump threatened, blaming the group for attempting to end the dollar's dominance. "BRICS was formed to harm our economy and eliminate the dollar as the world standard," he asserted.

Doubling down on his economic nationalism, Trump went on to say, "If they want to go down that path, I can respond too."

He drew a bleak picture of geopolitical retribution, stating, "Trying to challenge the dollar won't be easy, and I don't think they're ready to pay the price."

Key highlights-

• Trump announces 10% tariff on all BRICS countries, including India
• Claims BRICS aims to weaken the U.S. dollar’s global dominance
• Introduces 50% tariff on copper; pharma imports may face 200% hike

In spite of belligerent rhetoric, Trump discredited BRICS as a weakening group. "I said it a year ago—BRICS has pretty much collapsed, but a few countries remain," he claimed, stating the bloc is no longer a credible threat but still a vehicle for currency manipulation efforts.

READ MORE: BRICS 2025 Wraps Up with Major Global Reform Agenda 

Trump also directly jabbed President Joe Biden, stating weak leadership threatens the future of the dollar. "With such a stupid president as the previous one, we might lose the status of the dollar globally," he cautioned. "The dollar is king, and we're going to make it remain so."

Amid this rhetoric, Trump announced a 50% import tariff on copper and hinted at raising tariffs on pharmaceutical imports by up to 200%. “Today we’re doing copper,” he said during a cabinet meeting. “I think we’ll put the tariff at 50%.”