Opinion – Trump’s Tariffs are the Incentive the BRICS Needed

SOURCE LINK

Luis Gouveia Jr

 In July, the BRICS had their 2025 summit in Rio de Janeiro. A few days after a summit, Donald Trump used his social media, Truth Social, to threaten those who want to join the BRICS. Amid his tariff threats, the US president affirmed that states participating in the BRICS’ “anti-American policies” would face 10% tariffs. A few weeks later, Trump announced a 50% tariff on imports from Brazil, reportedly in response to judicial prosecutions against Jair Bolsonaro.

 This week, he announced 50% tariffs on products coming from India – justifying the tariffs because of India’s imports of Russian oil and arms.In Brazil and India, the reactions have been quiteIn similar. Their respective leaders, President Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have assertively refused to follow a servile path. Both claimed that Trump’s tariffs are unacceptable foreign interference and an attack on their countries’ sovereignty. Lula da Silva said that he will not humiliate himself to get a deal with the US. Even in highly polarized Brazil, the majority of public opinion seems to support Lula da Silva’s claims. Meanwhile, in India, Narendra Modi said he is ready to “pay the heavy price” to safeguard India’s interests. Whether Trump truly intended to weaken the BRICS, his policies are having the opposite effect. The US president is uniting the group at a moment when they were facing significant challenges.