At the Brics summit on July 7, developing nations dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that they are anti-American. In response to his threat of new tariffs, Brazilian President Lula da Silva stated that the world doesnt need an emperor. Trump’s warning came as the U.S. prepared to finalize numerous trade deals ahead of his July 9 deadline for implementing possible retaliatory tariffs. While the U.S. does not plan to immediately enforce the proposed 10% tariff on Brics countries, it may do so if their policies are deemed anti-American, according to a source familiar with the administration’s stance.

Speaking at the close of the summit in Rio de Janeiro, Lula strongly responded to Trump’s rhetoric: “The world has changed. We don’t want an emperor.” He emphasized that the Brics nations aim to reshape global economic structures, which he said was making some powers uneasy. Earlier this year, Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Brics members if they attempted to undermine the U.S. dollar’s dominance in global trade. Although Brazil has recently stepped back from pushing for a shared Brics currency, Lula reaffirmed his belief that global trade should not rely solely on the U.S. dollar. He stressed that such a transition would require careful coordination among central banks and would happen gradually.

Other Brics leaders offered more measured reactions. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said the bloc isn’t trying to compete with other powers and was optimistic about reaching a trade agreement with the U.S. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, warned against using tariffs as a form of pressure, promoting “win-win cooperation” instead. Russia also emphasized its commitment to peaceful, non-confrontational collaboration within the group. India did not issue a public comment.

Although many Brics and partner countries rely heavily on trade with the U.S., they remain committed to independent economic strategies. Indonesia’s top economic official, attending the summit, was scheduled to visit the U.S. for tariff discussions. Malaysia, also present, reiterated its focus on national policy over ideological alignment, noting that previously imposed 24% tariffs had been suspended.

Multilateral Approach: As traditional global platforms like the G7 and G20 struggle with divisions and Trump’s “America First” stance, Brics has positioned itself as a more cooperative forum for international dialogue. In a joint statement, Brics leaders condemned a recent attack on member nation Iran and warned that increasing tariffs could harm global trade—subtly criticizing U.S. trade policy.

Following the statement, Trump threatened to impose penalties on countries seeking Brics membership. Since its founding in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the group has expanded to include South Africa, and recently added Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE. Saudi Arabia has not yet fully joined but participates as a partner. Over 30 countries have shown interest in joining Brics as members or partners.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.