Trump Warns: Align with BRICS and Face Steep Tariffs, No Exceptions

US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to nations considering closer ties with the BRICS alliance: support anti-American policies, and you’ll pay the price — a 10% surcharge on all trade, with no country spared.

“Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump declared on social media, making clear the US will punish those who cross its economic red lines.

Trump’s criticism of BRICS—a group now including China, Russia, India, and a swathe of new members—has been unrelenting.

The US had set a July 9th deadline for nations to strike trade deals, but now Washington says the new tariffs will hit on August 1st. Letters will be dispatched soon to spell out exactly what rates apply to each country still at odds with Washington.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted, “It’s going to be a busy couple of days,” noting a flurry of late-night proposals as countries scramble to avoid US penalties.

So far, America has inked agreements with only the UK, Vietnam, and reached a partial deal with China. But haggling over UK steel tariffs remains unresolved.

Since returning to office this year, Trump has unleashed a barrage of new import duties, arguing they will revive American industry and secure jobs.

In April, during a self-proclaimed “Liberation Day,” he slapped sweeping new tariffs on a host of goods—some up to 50%—before pausing the harshest measures to allow for three months of negotiations.

During this window, a 10% tariff was imposed on most goods entering the US from overseas. Now, with the deadline looming, Europe is reportedly trying to keep this provisional rate in place and seeking relief from eye-watering taxes on cars, steel, and aluminum.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has held “good exchanges” with Trump, her spokesperson said, even as the US president threatened a 50% tariff on European imports unless an agreement is reached.

Japan, too, is in the crosshairs, with Trump warning of tariffs as high as 35% if talks fail.

Asked about the timing of the new tariffs, Trump was blunt: “They’re going to be tariffs. The tariffs are going to be tariffs.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed they will take effect August 1st, with 10 to 15 letters being sent to governments worldwide this week.

Bessent tried to strike a diplomatic note: “The letters simply say, ‘Thank you for wanting to trade with the United States. Here’s your rate—unless you’d like to renegotiate.’”

BRICS itself is evolving rapidly. Once a bloc of five, it has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—nations representing more than half the planet’s population, aiming to rival Western dominance.

Last year, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on BRICS countries if they launched a rival currency to the dollar. This latest warning comes after BRICS members, meeting in Rio, condemned US tariffs as a threat to the world economy and called for IMF reforms.

Andrew Wilson of the International Chamber of Commerce noted the difficulty of shifting global supply chains away from China.

“You look at China’s dominance in EVs, batteries, rare earths, magnets—there are simply no viable alternatives,” he told the BBC.

What Deals Has the US Struck So Far?

• UK: Tariffs on UK cars and parts have been slashed from 27.5% to 10% (up to 100,000 vehicles). Aerospace tariffs are gone. In exchange, Britain will drop taxes on US ethanol and beef.

  
  

• Vietnam: Vietnamese goods face a 20% US tariff, while American exports to Vietnam go untaxed. Goods “trans-shipped” via Vietnam to the US face a stiff 40% tariff.

  
  

• China: A partial deal saw US duties on certain Chinese imports drop from 145% to 30%, with China cutting tariffs on some US goods from 125% to 10%. China has also halted export restrictions on critical minerals.

  
  

With deadlines approaching and tempers flaring, the world’s trading partners now face a stark choice: make a deal with Washington — or brace for the tariff storm.