BRICS nations voice 'serious concerns' over Trump tariffs
By Facundo Fernández Barrio and Andrew Beatty
BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro from Sunday are expected to decry U.S. President Donald Trump's "indiscriminate" trade tariffs, saying they are illegal and risk hurting the global economy.
Emerging nations, which represent about half the world's population and 40 percent of global economic output, are set to unite over "serious concerns" about US import tariffs, according to a draft summit statement obtained by AFP.
Since coming to office in January, Trump has threatened allies and rivals alike with a slew of punitive duties.
His latest salvo comes in the form of letters informing trading partners of new tariff rates that will soon enter into force.
The draft summit declaration does not mention the United States or its president by name.
But it is a clear political shot directed at Washington from 11 emerging nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
"We voice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO (World Trade Organization) rules," the draft text says.
It warns that such measures "threaten to further reduce global trade" and are "affecting the prospects for global economic development."
Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, the BRICS have come to be seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to Western power.
But the two-day summit's political punch will be depleted by the absence of China's Xi Jinping, who is skipping the annual meeting for the first time in his 12 years as president.
"I expect there will be speculation about the reasons for Xi's absence," said Ryan Hass, a former China director at the U.S. National Security Council who is now with the Brookings Institution think tank.
"The simplest explanation may hold the most explanatory power. Xi recently hosted Lula in Beijing," said Hass.
The Chinese leader will not be the only notable absentee. War crime-indicted Russian President Vladimir Putin is also opting to stay away, but will participate via video link, according to the Kremlin.
Hass said Putin's non-attendance and the fact that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be a guest of honor in Brazil could also be factors in Xi's absence.
"Xi does not want to appear upstaged by Modi," who will receive a state lunch, he said.
"I expect Xi's decision to delegate attendance to Premier Li (Qiang) rests amidst these factors."
Still, the Xi no-show is a blow to host President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who wants Brazil to play a bigger role on the world stage.
In the year to November 2025, Brazil will have hosted a G20 summit, a BRICS summit, and COP30 international climate talks, all before heading into fiercely contested presidential elections next year, in which he is expected to run.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation is still reeling from a 12-day conflict with Israel, is also skipping the meeting.
A source familiar with the negotiations said the BRICS countries were divided over how to respond to the wars in Gaza and between Iran and Israel.
Iranian negotiators were pushing for a tougher collective stance that goes beyond referencing the need for the creation of a Palestinian state and for disputes to be resolved peacefully.
But one diplomatic source said the text would give the "same message" that BRICS delivered in June when Iran was being bombed by Israel and the United States, expressing "concern."
Artificial intelligence and health will also be on the agenda at the summit.
Original members of the bloc Brazil, Russia, India, and China have been joined by South Africa and, more recently, by Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia.
© 2025 AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
11 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Brazil hosts BRICS summit, eager to avoid provoking Trump's ire
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Brazil will play host to a summit of the BRICS bloc of developing economies Sunday and Monday during which pressing topics like Israel's attack on Iran, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and trade tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to be handled with caution. Analysts and diplomats said the lack of cohesion in an enlarged BRICS, which doubled in size last year, may affect its ability to become another pole in world affairs. They also see the summit's moderate agenda as an attempt by member countries to stay off Trump's radar. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will have some of his priorities, such as debates on artificial intelligence and climate change, front and center for the talks with key leaders not in attendance. China's President Xi Jinping won't attend a BRICS summit for the first time since he became his country's leader in 2012. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will make an appearance via videoconference, continues to mostly avoid traveling abroad due to an international arrest warrant issued after Russia invaded Ukraine. Debate over language on hot-button topics The restraint expected in Rio de Janeiro marks a departure from last year's summit hosted by Russia in Kazan, when the Kremlin sought to develop alternatives to U.S.-dominated payment systems which would allow it to dodge Western sanctions imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A source involved in the negotiations told journalists Friday that some members of the group want more aggressive language on the situation in Gaza and Israel's attack on Iran. The source spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly. "Brazil wants to keep the summit as technical as possible," said Oliver Stuenkel, a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation think tank and university. Consequently, observers expect a vague final declaration regarding Russia's war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East. As well as suiting Brazil, a watered-down and non-controversial statement may be made easier by the absences of Putin and Xi, Stuenkel said. Those two countries have pushed for a stronger anti-Western stance, as opposed to Brazil and India that prefer non-alignment. A Brazilian government official told The Associated Press Thursday that the group is expected to produce three joint statements and a final declaration, "all of which less bounded by current geopolitical tensions." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the summit's preparations. Joao Alfredo Nyegray, an international business and geopolitics professor at the Pontifical Catholic University in Parana, said the summit could have played a role in showing an alternative to an unstable world, but won't do so. "The withdrawal of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the uncertainty about the level of representation for countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are confirming the difficulty for the BRICS to establish themselves as a cohesive pole of global leadership," Nyegray said. "This moment demands high level articulation, but we are actually seeing dispersion." Brazil skittish in light of Trump tariffs Brazil, the country that chairs the bloc, has picked six strategic priorities for the summit: global cooperation in healthcare; trade, investment and finance; climate change; governance for artificial intelligence; peace-making and security; and institutional development. It has decided to focus on less controversial issues, such as promoting trade relations between members and global health, after Trump returned to the White House, said Ana Garcia, a professor at the Rio de Janeiro Federal Rural University. "Brazil wants the least amount of damage possible and to avoid drawing the attention of the Trump administration to prevent any type of risk to the Brazilian economy," Garcia said. While Brazil will continue to advocate for the reform of Western-led global institutions, a cornerstone policy of the group, the country wants to avoid becoming the target of tariffs -- a predicament it has so far largely escaped. Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs against the bloc if they take any moves to undermine the dollar. Other leaders shun the summit Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egypt's Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will also be absent. Those two countries joined the BRICS in 2024, alongside Ethiopia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has been invited and is participating in member discussions, but it has yet to send its confirmation letter. As well as new members, the bloc has 10 strategic partner countries, a category created at last year's summit that includes Belarus, Cuba and Vietnam. That rapid expansion led Brazil to put housekeeping issues -- officially termed institutional development -- on the agenda to better integrate new members and boost internal cohesion. Despite notable absences, the summit is important for attendees, especially in the context of instability provoked by Trump's tariff wars, said Bruce Scheidl, a researcher at the University of Sao Paulo's BRICS study group. "The summit offers the best opportunity for emerging countries to respond, in the sense of seeking alternatives and diversifying their economic partnerships," Scheidl said. For Lula, the summit will be a welcome pause from a difficult domestic scenario, marked by a drop in popularity and conflict with Congress. The meeting also represents an opportunity to advance climate negotiations and commitments on protecting the environment before November's COP 30 climate talks in the Amazonian city of Belem.
Nikkei Asia
12 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
Japanese emperor in Mongolia, US tariff deadline, Taiwan exercises
Welcome to Your Week in Asia. Regional and world trade has been roiled over the past few months by U.S. President Donald Trump's sudden shifts on levies, and this week will see a much-anticipated moment -- the end of the pause on Washington's "reciprocal" tariffs. Past and potential conflicts also loom over the agenda this week, with Japanese Emperor Naruhito heading to Mongolia as the world continues to mark the 80th anniversary of World War II, while Taiwan will hold its annual exercises simulating an attack by China. Get the best of our coverage of Asia and much more by following us on X, where our handle is @NikkeiAsia. We are also now on Bluesky, with the handle @ SUNDAY Japanese emperor's Mongolia trip While making a visit to Mongolia that runs through next Sunday, Naruhito is set to honor thousands of Japanese held prisoner during World War II. Ahead of the trip, the emperor said he wished "to pay tribute to and ponder over the hardship of those who unwillingly lost their lives far away from their homeland." MONDAY Vietnam trade data Vietnam publishes trade data for June, which will include information on the origin and type of products. The numbers are expected to shed light on the actions of exporters in response to U.S. tariffs prior to Hanoi and Washington agreeing new levies in a deal last Wednesday. TUESDAY Monetary policy: Australia Earnings: Samsung Electronics WEDNESDAY U.S. tariff pause due to end Trump's 90-day pause of his "reciprocal" tariffs is due to expire, turning up the heat on trading partners in Asia and elsewhere to strike deals to avert the steepest levies. Trump has said he will be sending out letters declaring the tariffs his administration intends to charge other countries. ASEAN foreign ministers meeting Kuala Lumpur will host the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting on Wednesday along with the two-day East Asia Summit from Thursday and the ASEAN Regional Forum on Friday, with key figures such as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and European Union High Representative Vice President Kaja Kallas expected to attend. The high-stakes diplomacy will focus on U.S. tariffs, Middle East tensions and the U.S.-China trade war. Taiwan live-fire exercises Taiwan starts its annual Han Kuang exercises, simulating a possible attack by China. The drills are due to last for 10 days and will involve mobilizing thousands of reservists. Officials have said the exercises will also cover "gray zone" actions by China, short of outright war. This year's edition comes amid particularly high tensions in the Taiwan Strait. OECD employment outlook The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will publish its latest data on the employment situation in member countries. The outlook will also include an analysis of declining fertility -- a particular concern in Asian nations -- and the impact of increasing longevity on employment and economic growth. Monetary policy: Malaysia Data: China consumer price index IPO: PMCK THURSDAY Mahathir's 100th birthday Mahathir Mohamad, one of the world's oldest living former heads of government, turns 100. Born in 1925, he entered politics in the 1940s and twice served as Malaysia's prime minister, first for a 22-year term from 1981 and later for 22 months from 2018. Earnings: Seven & i, Fast Retailing, Tata Consultancy Services FRIDAY IPO: A1 AK Koh Group
The Mainichi
13 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Ukraine says it struck a Russian air base as Russia sent hundreds of drones into Ukraine
LONDON (AP) -- Ukraine said it struck a Russian air base on Saturday, while Russia continued to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than 3-year-old war. Ukraine's military General Staff said that Ukrainian forces had struck the Borisoglebsk air base in Russia's Voronezh region, describing it as the home base of Russia's Su-34, Su-35S and Su-30SM fighter jets. Writing on Facebook, the General Staff said it hit a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft and "possibly other aircraft." Russian officials did not immediately comment on the attack. Such attacks on Russian air bases aim to dent Russia's military capability and demonstrate Ukraine's capability to hit high-value targets in Russia. Last month, Ukraine said it destroyed more than 40 Russian planes stationed at several airfields deep in Russia's territory in a surprise drone attack. Russia fired 322 drones and decoys into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, Ukraine's air force said. Of these, 157 were shot down and 135 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed. According to the air force, Ukraine's western Khmelnytskyi region was the main target of the attack. Regional Gov. Serhii Tyurin said Saturday that no damage, injuries or deaths had been reported. Russia has been stepping up its long-range attacks on Ukraine. Waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv overnight into Friday in the largest aerial assault since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. On Saturday, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the number of people killed in the assault had increased to two. A further 31 people were wounded. The fresh wave of attacks came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he had a "very important and productive" phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two leaders discussed how Ukrainian air defenses might be strengthened, possible joint weapons production between the U.S. and Ukraine, and broader U.S-led efforts to end the war with Russia, according to a statement by Zelenskyy. Asked Friday night by reporters about the call, Trump said, "We had a very good call, I think." When asked about finding a way to end the fighting, Trump said: "I don't know. I can't tell you whether or not that's going to happen." The U.S. has paused some shipments of military aid to Ukraine, including crucial air defense missiles. Ukraine's main European backers are considering how they can help pick up the slack. Zelenskyy says plans are afoot to build up Ukraine's domestic arms industry, but scaling up will take time. Russia's Defense Ministry said it shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday, along with 45 further drones Saturday morning and early afternoon. No casualties were reported, but local officials in the Saratov region said 25 apartments were damaged by Ukrainian drones in the city of Engels. Four Ukrainian drones were shot down while approaching Moscow on Saturday, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Air traffic was briefly halted as a precaution at one of Moscow's airports, Sheremetyevo, Russia's aviation authority Rosaviatsiya said.
