Mereja.Forum

[Fiyameta]

Trump says BRICS nations to get 10% tariff 'pretty soon'



By Andrea Shalal and Ricardo Brito
July 8, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the U.S. would "pretty soon" charge a 10% tariff on imports from BRICS countries, drawing another complaint from Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who just hosted the bloc's annual summit.

Trump, who raised the tariff threat on Sunday, said in a Tuesday cabinet meeting at the White House that the duty was on the way: "Anybody that's in BRICS is getting a 10% charge pretty soon ... If they're a member of BRICS, they're going to have to pay a 10% tariff ... and they won't be a member long."

Trump claimed the group was set up to hurt the United States and he U.S. dollar's role as the world's reserve currency. He said he would not allow that to happen. "BRICS was set up to degenerate our dollar and take our dollar ... take it off as the standard," he said. "And that's okay if they want to play that game, but I can play that game too."

Trump said losing the dollar's role as the world's reserve currency would be like "losing a war, a major world war. We would not be the same country any longer."

[Horus]

Fiyameta,
I am glad you have a country to talk about. Now, you know that there is only one country in the Horn of Africa. By the way how come Sisi forgot to ask Isayas to come to Cairo with Hassan Sheik? የተረሳ አሽከር I think God willing the creeping coup we hear about might be your last hope.

[Fiyameta]

Ethiopia's $130 million a year coffee exports to the US will face a 10% tariff.

Don't be surprised if Abiy Ahmed officially announces Ethiopia's withdrawal of BRICS membership in the coming days, or weeks, unless the UAE that is also a BRICS member advises Abiy Ahmed against the planned withdrawal.

[Fiyameta]

With Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia recently joining and nearly new partner or affiliate nations like Algeria and Malaysia in tow, BRICS is clearly on a rapid growth path.

Many countries are drawn to the bloc for pragmatic reasons, seeking a multipolar world order less dominated by the West. They believe BRICS will amplify the voice of the Global South on the world stage.

Those fearful of Western sanctions, like Iran and Russia, are counting on BRICS to help shield their economies through BRICS Pay and BRICS Bridge — planned alternatives to the Western payment messaging system, SWIFT.

Others, including Ethiopia and Egypt, seek development financing free of the political strings often tied to Western aid. But Trump's latest threat could make them think twice.

"Suddenly, being part of BRICS has a cost," Garcia-Herrero told DW. "This will probably discourage some, particularly the poorer countries."