BRICS tariff to be applied only if they adopt policies deemed anti-American, source says

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WASHINGTON - The Trump administration will not immediately impose a new 10% tariff against members of the developing nation BRICS bloc, but will proceed if countries take so-called anti-American policy actions, according to a source familiar with the matter.

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States will impose an additional 10% tariff on any countries aligning themselves with so-called anti-American policies of the BRICS group of developing nations, triggering sharp denials from its members that they were oriented against the United States.

A line is being drawn. If policy decisions are made that are anti-American, then the tariff will be charged, said the source, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on the matter.

No executive order has been released by the White House.

Trumps announcement, made on his Truth Social media platform, came as India, Indonesia and other countries within the BRICS group were negotiating last-minute trade deals with the U.S. government ahead of a July 9 deadline when tariff rates had been scheduled to go up. The effective date for those tariffs has now been postponed until August 1.

Trade experts said the new tariff threat was aimed at maintaining and increasing pressure on countries seeking to avoid high tariffs proposed by Trump in April. Many BRICS members and partner countries are highly dependent on trade with the United States.

Trumps posting came hours after BRICS leaders issued a 31-page statement in which they condemned attacks on Gaza and Iran, called for reforms to global institutions and warned that unilateral tariffs threatened global trade.

The first BRICS summit in 2009 was attended by leaders from Brazil, China,