Trump's Additional Tariffs Will Be Implemented If BRICS Members Adopt 'Anti-American' Policy

JAKARTA - The United States government under President Donald Trump will not immediately impose an additional 10 percent tariff on BRICS state bloc members, but will continue if countries take policy action called "anti-American", according to sources familiar with the matter.

President Trump said on Sunday the United States would impose an additional 10 percent tariff on any country aligning itself with the so-called "anti-American policy" of the developing state group BRICS, prompting sharp denial from its members that it is oriented towards the United States.

"There are limits made. If the policy decisions made are anti-American, then the rates will be imposed," the source said, asking for anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

No executive orders were issued by the White House.

President Trump's announcement, delivered through his Truth Social media platform, comes as India, Indonesia, and other countries in the BRICS group are negotiating a last-minute trade deal with the US Government ahead of July 9 deadline when tariffs are scheduled to rise. The effective date of the tariff has now been postponed until August 1.

Trade experts say the threat of the new tariff is aimed at maintaining and increasing pressure on countries seeking to avoid high tariffs proposed by President Trump in April. Many members of BRICS and partner countries rely heavily on trade with the United States.

President Trump's announcement comes hours after BRICS leaders issued a 31-page statement, in which they condemned the attacks on Gaza and Iran, called for reforms against global institutions, and warned that unilateral rates threaten global trade.

The first BRICS summit in 2009 was attended by leaders from Brazil, China, India and Russia, with South Africa joining later. Following then Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as Saudi Arabia, despite being accepted as members, participated as partner countries.

Other partner countries include Bolivia, Nigeria, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Uganda.

President Trump himself has close ties to leaders of some of these countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE and has touted prospects for a weeks-long trade deal with India.

His administration completed a framework trade deal with Vietnam last week, and has held talks on similar agreements with Thailand.

In a statement by BRICS leaders Sunday, they condemned the attacks on Gaza and Iran by Israel, its US allies, and called for reforms against global institutions, warning that an increase in "unlateral rates and non-tariff actions" threatens global trade.

It was not immediately clear whether President Trump's latest tariff threat would thwart ongoing trade talks with India, Indonesia, and other BRICS countries.

Indonesia, which wants to avoid a 32 percent tariff threat, will sign a US$34 billion agreement with US partners this week and has offered to cut import duties on major imports from the United States to "close to zero" and buy US$500 million worth of wheat.