BRICS Leaders Slam Trump’s Protectionist Policies, Tariff ‘Blackmail’

BRICS Leaders Slam Trump’s Protectionist Policies, Tariff ‘Blackmail’

World leaders of the BRICS bloc — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — have strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist economic stance, describing his tariff-driven approach as “economic blackmail” that threatens global trade stability.

The rebuke came during the ongoing BRICS Summit, where member states jointly condemned unilateral trade measures that disrupt supply chains and undermine the multilateral trading system.

In their communique, the leaders argued that Trump’s policies, which favored heavy tariffs and restrictions on imports, placed undue pressure on developing economies and heightened the risk of trade wars.

> “Protectionism disguised as nationalism is nothing short of economic blackmail,” one BRICS leader said. “It undermines fair competition and the principles of globalization.”

The group further emphasized the need for a fair, transparent, and rules-based international trading system, urging world powers to avoid “weaponizing tariffs” for political or strategic advantage.

Analysts note that the criticism reflects BRICS’ broader push for greater economic independence and a shift away from Western-dominated fina

ncial systems.