Sat Jul 12 19:44:00 UTC 2025: **Headline: Trump Threatens BRICS with Tariffs Over De-Dollarization Concerns**
**Rio de Janeiro, July 13, 2025:** U.S. President Donald Trump is once again raising tensions with the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE), threatening to impose 10% tariffs on member states. This follows repeated warnings that the U.S. would levy 100% tariffs if the bloc pursues a common currency or any alternative to the U.S. dollar.
Trump’s ire stems from the BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative, discussed at summits in 2023 and 2024. The initiative seeks to facilitate trade within BRICS countries using local currencies, a move fueled by challenges arising from Western sanctions on Russia.
Just prior to the 17th BRICS summit in Rio, Trump declared that any country aligned with BRICS would face tariffs. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon noted Trump’s consistent frustration with BRICS’ de-dollarization efforts.
Beyond BRICS, the U.S. has already imposed tariffs on Brazil and South Africa, citing political and trade concerns. A proposed “Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025” threatens massive tariffs on Russian oil, potentially impacting importers like India and China.
BRICS members deny plans to replace the dollar. The South African Foreign Ministry clarified that using national currencies within the bloc differs from creating a global dollar alternative. The BRICS Rio declaration 2025 avoided direct challenges to the U.S. or the dollar.
The Modi government, seeking a Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., disputes the “anti-American” label for BRICS. Indian officials have stated that discussions on alternative payment systems were merely “taken note of” and not adopted as policy. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar acknowledged differences within BRICS on the dollar issue.
First Piper 