BRICS: US tariffs amount to ‘coercion’ that can cause ‘uncertainty'

The BRICS countries, in a joint statement, expressed concern at the imposition of tariffs by the US saying it could cause ‘uncertainty’ in global trade and termed it as ‘coercion’.

The joint statement, which also mentioned the goals of expanding BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China  and South Africa), was the outcome of meeting of foreign ministers of the grouping on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday.

The BRICS condemned the terror attack at Pahalgam  in Jammu and Kashmir; and also the air strikes on Iran and Qatar,  carried out by the US and Israel, respectively.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired the meeting as India will be leading the BRICS in 2026.

Coming down heavily on the issue of trade-tariffs that have been posed by the US, the BRICS countries voiced serious concerns saying, “ The rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules. Such practices risk fragmenting global trade and marginalising the Global South.”

The trade-restrictive actions have seen ‘indiscriminate’ rise of tariffs and non-tariff measures. “These measures (are) used as a means of coercion that threaten to further reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty into international economic and trade activities,” the statement said.

This can exacerbate existing economic disparities and affecting prospects for global economic development, it added.

On terrorism, the BRICS Foreign Ministers expressed strong condemnation of all acts of terrorism. They condemned in the strongest terms the terrorism attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025. They urged to ensure ‘zero tolerance’ for terrorism and rejected double standards in countering terrorism.

The BRICS also reiterated support for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council. They reiterated their support to the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN and its security council.

Also the BRICS said it intends to grow, despite US President Donald Trump, in July this year, having called it anti-US grouping. The joint statement from New York on Friday said the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to consolidate and strengthen BRICS. This would be done in line with BRICS ‘membership expansion guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures adopted during the BRCIS Johannesburg Summit in South Africa in 2023. Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, were added as members at the same summit.

“The BRICS expansion reflects its influence, credibility, and appeal as an important platform for inclusive global governance and for amplifying the collective voices from the Global South,” the joint statement said. 

Notably, foreign ministers of the grouping condemned Israel’s attack on Qatar, and called it a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, breach of international law including the UN Charter.

The statement also condemned the military strikes against Iran since June 13, 2025, saying this was “violation of international law and the charter of the United Nations, and expressed grave concern over the subsequent escalation of the security situation in the Middle East”.

The BRCIS expressed ‘serious concern’ over deliberate attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under full safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).