U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that any country aligning with BRICS policies against American interests will face an additional 10% tariff, delaying his original July 9 deadline to August 1 for negotiations. The warning, issued via Truth Social, escalates global trade tensions as the administration pressures nations to abandon economic partnerships with the China and Russia-led bloc.
The White House will dispatch notices to 10-15 countries this week detailing potential tariff rates unless they strike deals. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reported a surge in last-minute proposals, citing “a busy couple of days” as nations scramble to avoid penalties. Thus far, only the UK, Vietnam, and China have secured partial agreements—with Britain still haggling over steel tariffs and the EU negotiating to maintain 10% rates on most exports while reducing 25% auto duties.
BRICS in the Crosshairs
Trump’s latest salvo targets the expanded BRICS alliance—now including Egypt, Iran, and Saudi Arabia—which represents half the global population. The group recently condemned U.S. tariffs as destabilizing to the IMF system and world trade during a Rio de Janeiro summit. The threat follows Trump’s April “Liberation Day” rollout of 50% steel/aluminum tariffs and a since-suspended plan for 100% BRICS duties if members pursued a dollar rival.
International Chambers of Commerce’s Andrew Wilson warned that decoupling from Chinese supply chains—dominant in EVs, batteries, and rare earth minerals—remains impractical despite U.S. pressure.
The Key agreements so far:
- For the UK: 10% car tariffs (from 27.5%) for 100K vehicles; zero aerospace taxes
- For Vietnam: 20% import tax on Vietnamese goods vs. 0% for U.S. exports; 40% on trans-shipped products
- For China: Partial cuts from 145% to 30% on select U.S. imports
As the August 1 deadline nears, the moves signal Trump’s “America First” playbook is entering a more aggressive phase—with the BRICS bloc emerging as its primary battleground.
