Trump: 10% tariffs on anti-US countries

On July 6, US President Trump said that he would impose an additional 10% tariff on “all countries that agree with anti-US policies” in the BRICS countries (BRICS), which are composed of major emerging countries such as China and Russia. He posted on his SNS and emphasized: “There are no exceptions.”

Trump did not explain the specific content of the “anti-US policy.” On July 6, the BRICS countries held a summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and adopted a summit declaration.

Although the summit declaration did not directly mention the United States, it condemned the armed attack on Iran, a BRICS member country, as a violation of international law.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed opposition to Trump’s statement at a press conference on July 7. She made it clear: “We have always opposed tariff wars and trade wars, and oppose the use of tariffs as a tool of coercion and pressure. The arbitrary imposition of tariffs is not in the interests of any party.”

Mao Ning also said that BRICS cooperation is “open and inclusive, and not targeted at any country.”

On July 6, Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered a speech at the BRICS Summit: “Power and hegemony have never been the right way to solve problems.”