Moscow, July 07 (V7N) — Leaders of the BRICS alliance have sharply criticized what they described as "reckless" unilateral tariff policies, indirectly targeting U.S. President Donald Trump's trade measures during a summit held on Sunday. While avoiding direct mention of Trump or the United States, the bloc warned that such actions threaten global economic stability.

In a joint statement, BRICS — comprising 11 emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newer members such as Iran and Saudi Arabia — voiced strong opposition to the unilateral increase of import tariffs. The group stated that these policies could have damaging consequences for the global economy.

The BRICS nations, which together represent nearly half of the world’s population and around 40% of global GDP, emphasized the need for collective approaches to economic challenges rather than unilateral actions that fuel uncertainty in international markets.

The bloc also expressed solidarity with Iran, condemning recent Israeli and U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear and other facilities. The leaders reiterated their call for peaceful resolutions, including a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — although internal divisions remain, with Iran maintaining its longstanding stance of seeking Israel’s destruction.

The BRICS summit highlighted the growing difficulty of forging consensus within the bloc following its expansion, as it attempts to challenge Western influence while balancing the diverse agendas of its members. The alliance, originally formed as a platform for fast-growing economies, increasingly positions itself as a counterweight to Western-led global governance.

Trump had temporarily suspended certain tariffs earlier this year amid market volatility, but has warned of imposing new unilateral tariffs if trade negotiations fail to produce an agreement by August 1.

Source: Arab News

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