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By Brendan Cole
Senior Reporter
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President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 10 percent tariff on any country aligned with the BRICS group of nations, which includes Russia, delivering a potential economic blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The bloc—which also consists of Brazil, India, China, South Africa and five other emerging economies—held a summit over the weekend in which it condemned Trump's "indiscriminate" import tariffs and the Israeli-U. S. strikes on Iran.
Trump posted on Truth Social late on Sunday that "any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10 percent Tariff," adding: "There will be no exceptions to this policy."
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Newsweek has contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
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Why It Matters
In April, Russia was one of the only countries not to be hit with tariffs when Trump announced "reciprocal" taxes on international imports into the U.S., which he said would boost the American economy.
Sanctions had shrunk trade between Russia and the U.S. by more than 90 percent—from $35 billion in 2021 to $3.5 billion in 2024, but some commentators said the omission was a sign that Trump favored his relationship with Putin over his relationships with U.S. allies.
Trump's threat to BRICS—which has expanded to include Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates—could signal a hardening stance toward Russia.
What To Know
Trump said that on Monday, the U.S. would begin to deliver tariff letters to other countries. He also issued a warning of additional levies against BRICS nations.
His Truth Social post followed a declaration by BRICS, which did not mention Trump by name but condemned his tariffs and the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
The group's statement said it had "serious concerns" about the tariffs, which went against World Trade Organization rules and posed a threat to global trade and supply chains.
BRICS also criticized NATO's decision to increase defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035, which followed Trump's push for Europe to pay a bigger proportion into the alliance.
Trump hit back, writing that any country aligning itself with "the Anti-American policies" of BRICS, would face an additional 10 percent charge.
Last year, Trump threatened 100 percent tariffs on BRICS countries if they moved ahead with their own currency to rival the U.S. dollar.
Richard Gardiner, senior analyst at S-RM, told Newsweek Monday that while the 10 percent tariff threat is less alarming than the 100 percent Trump had threatened in 2024, it remains a significant concern for BRICS members—especially those with the highest U.S. trade exposure such as China and India.
These tariffs may erode export competitiveness, disrupt supply chains, and dampen growth prospects, he said. "Due to existing U.S. sanctions on Russia, the additional tariffs are unlikely to have a significant direct impact on the Russian economy."
But any associated global economic slowdown as a result of these and other tariffs would have an indirect impact on Russia, primarily through lower oil prices and reduced demand for its key exports, he added.
"This could exacerbate fiscal pressures, widen the budget deficit, and intensify inflationary risks already facing the Russian economy."
What People Are Saying
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on July 6: "Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10 percent Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
BRICS said in a statement: "We voice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and nontariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO (World Trade Organization) rules."
Richard Gardiner, senior analyst at S-RM, told Newsweek: "The tariffs threaten to erode export competitiveness, disrupt supply chains, and dampen growth prospects, prompting policymakers in [BRICS] countries to weigh additional stimulus or trade diversification measures to cushion the blow."
What Happens Next
Trump's 90-day pause on his reciprocal tariffs is due to expire on July 9, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the higher tariff rates will be imposed in August if countries do not strike trade deals with the U.S. before then.
Bessent told CNN that many countries "never even contacted us" when asked why the White House had not struck more trade agreements with countries given Trump's boasts about his abilities as a dealmaker.
His comments suggest that the letters to trading partners aren't the final word on their immediate tariff rates and that there is still time for new offers.
Update 07/07/25, 12 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Richard Gardiner.
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