Senior diplomats from BRICS countries are gathering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this week to forge a united response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating trade policies. The two-day meeting, which begins Monday, comes at a time when global economic growth projections have been cut by the International Monetary Fund, largely due to Trump’s sweeping new tariffs.
BRICS comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa now represents nearly half of the world’s population and accounts for 39 percent of global GDP. The bloc has expanded since its founding in 2009, now welcoming Iran, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates into its fold.
According to Brazil’s BRICS representative Mauricio Lyrio, the ministers are working on a declaration to “reaffirm the centrality and importance of the multilateral trading system,” emphasizing cooperation in the face of rising protectionism. Trump’s administration has recently slapped a blanket 10 percent tariff on imports from many countries, while China faces even steeper duties of up to 145 percent on various goods. In retaliation, Beijing imposed tariffs as high as 125 percent on American products. Trump has also threatened 100 percent tariffs on BRICS nations if they “undercut the U.S. dollar,” further straining relations.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will host the meeting, with key figures such as Russia’s Sergei Lavrov and China’s Wang Yi in attendance. A joint statement is expected Monday afternoon.
Beyond trade, climate change will be a major topic of discussion, especially as Brazil prepares to host the United Nations COP30 climate summit in November in Belem, located in the Amazon. The ongoing war in Ukraine is also on the agenda, with Trump reportedly eager to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
On Tuesday, BRICS leaders will be joined by representatives from nine partner nations, including Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Nigeria, and several former Soviet republics, broadening the dialogue on global challenges.
This diplomatic push underscores the growing influence of BRICS and signals an intensifying global realignment in response to shifting U.S. policies.
