US President Donald Trump has reiterated his warning that he may impose 100% tariffs on India and other BRICS countries, as part of his broader plan to address trade imbalances. During a recent announcement of his reciprocal tariff policy, Trump warned that countries like India, a key member of the BRICS group, could face tariffs equal to those they impose on US goods.
On Thursday, Trump unveiled his reciprocal tariff plan, which aims to ensure that the United States charges countries the same tariffs that they charge on US imports. In his statement, Trump pointed out that India imposes higher tariffs on US goods than nearly any other country. “India has more tariffs than nearly any other country,” Trump remarked, underscoring his dissatisfaction with current trade relations.
The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has received repeated warnings from Trump. He has specifically threatened that if the group moves ahead with plans to replace the US dollar with a different currency as the global reserve, the US will impose 100% tariffs on trade between the nations. Responding to a question about the potential for BRICS countries to establish their own currency, Trump bluntly stated, “If any trading gets through, it’ll be 100% tariff, at least.”
As part of his broader strategy, Trump has ordered his administration to explore the imposition of reciprocal tariffs on several trading partners. The US President argued that the current global trade system is unfair to the United States and needs rebalancing. He has tasked the US Trade Representative and the Commerce Secretary with proposing new tariffs on a country-by-country basis to even out trade relations between the US and other nations.
“We will charge any country that charges us,” Trump explained during his announcement, emphasizing the principle of parity in the tariff system. “No more or no less… They charge us a tax or tariff, and we charge the exact same tax or tariff… nobody knows what that number is… you go to an individual country and see what they are charging us.”
While Trump’s statement is clear in its intent to pressure countries like India, the process of determining and implementing these reciprocal tariffs could take weeks or even months, according to senior White House officials. The administration currently has no definitive timeline for when it will enact the tariffs and will have to navigate the complexities of international trade agreements and relations.
This move signals the start of a more aggressive stance on global trade, and it remains to be seen how BRICS nations and other trading partners will respond to these developments. The situation highlights ongoing tensions surrounding trade imbalances and the growing influence of BRICS countries on the world stage.
