China has strongly opposed the use of tariffs to pressure other countries, following a warning by US President Donald Trump to impose extra taxes on nations supporting BRICS. The Chinese Foreign Ministry made the statement on Monday, July 7, during a regular press conference.

Mao Ning, the spokesperson for the ministry, said that such actions are harmful to all sides. “The use of tariffs benefits no one,” she said. She also added that “the BRICS grouping promotes openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation.”

Mao stressed that BRICS is not a political group targeting any country but a platform for teamwork between emerging and developing nations. “It is not aimed against any specific country,” she said.

The BRICS group—originally made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—was formed in 2009. In 2024, the bloc expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Trump threatens extra 10% tariff on BRICS allies

Earlier on Monday, President Donald Trump posted a warning on the social media platform Truth Social. He said:
“Any country aligning itself with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

In a separate post, he also announced that his administration would begin sending out letters to different countries. These letters will explain new tariff rules and changes in trade deals.

“I am pleased to announce that the UNITED STATES TARIFF Letters, and/or Deals, with various countries from around the world, will be delivered starting 12:00 P.M. (Eastern), Monday, July 7th. Thank you for your attention to this matter! DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America,” he wrote.

The first set of these official letters is expected to be sent out by 9:30 PM IST.

The situation has raised concerns over global trade tensions between the US and several countries, especially those part of the BRICS group.

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