Every time BRICS meets, Trump gets nervous. This time, they pushed back.
Heat. Heat.
The BRICS summit in Brazil wasn’t just a gathering of emerging economies—it was a signal. And across the ocean, one man in particular was watching closely: Donald Trump.
He didn’t wait long to strike.
“Any country aligning with the anti-American policies of BRICS will face an additional 10% tariff.”
— Donald Trump
No exceptions. Just threats.
But something felt different this time. The bloc didn’t flinch. They didn’t even name him. Instead, BRICS responded with unity—and a clear message: We’re not playing your game anymore.
The BRICS Expansion Is Bigger Than You Think
The original five—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—now have company.
Five new members joined the bloc:
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Indonesia
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Egypt
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Ethiopia
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UAE
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Iran
Together, the ten countries account for:
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Over half the world’s population
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More than 40% of global economic output
And they’re doing more than holding hands. At the summit, they condemned tariffs as a coercive tool that threatens global trade. China didn’t mince words:
“BRICS cooperation is open and inclusive—not aimed at anyone. We oppose tariff wars. Arbitrary tariffs serve no one’s interest.”
So why is Trump rattled?
De-Dollarization: The Real Threat
Trump isn’t just angry about alliances. He’s scared of what BRICS represents: the slow erosion of U.S. dollar dominance.
De-dollarization is the move to limit the use of the U.S. dollar in global trade—by shifting to other currencies or bilateral agreements.
Trump once said:
“I hate when countries go off the dollar. I would not allow countries to go off the dollar because when we lose that standard, it’s like losing a revolutionary war.”
He sees BRICS as that revolutionary force.
Trade Is Booming—Just Not With America
Ironically, Western sanctions are fueling the very trend Trump fears.
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Intra-BRICS trade jumped 40% from 2021 to 2024, hitting $740 billion in 2024 alone.
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Russia, under 20,000+ sanctions, shifted to the Chinese yuan. By mid-2024, 53% of its foreign transactions were in yuan—up from 40% three years ago.
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India imported 43% of its oil from Russia in June 2024—more than Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and UAE combined.
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Brazil and South Africa are buying Chinese electric cars en masse. In Brazil, BYD took over a former Ford factory. In South Africa, 27+ Chinese models are now on sale.
These aren’t isolated anecdotes. They tell a bigger story:
BRICS countries are building a trade ecosystem that works without American approval—or American currency.
Forget the BRICS Currency. Watch the Bilateral Deals.
No one’s saying the dollar is dead. A BRICS-wide currency? Still a long shot. The bloc has too many internal political rifts to pull that off.
But what is working—quietly and efficiently—is bilateralism.
Deals between just two nations. Currency swaps. Oil-for-rupees. Car factories traded for influence.
That’s where BRICS shines: agility. Flexibility. One-on-one cooperation.
And that’s what scares Washington more than a photo op of ten leaders smiling in Brazil.
“This cooperation has never been, and will never be, directed against third countries,” said a Russian delegate.
“But it is about our interests.”
Trump wanted to intimidate.
Instead, he may have unified them.
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