BRICS Unites Against US Tariff Heat, India Pitches ‘New Trade Order’

• By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
• Sep 09, 2025
• 603

In a rare emergency virtual summit, BRICS leaders closed ranks against U.S. tariff policies that have jolted global trade. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India, warning that “creating problems and making transactions difficult will not help… trade must be facilitated, not obstructed.”

The meet, joined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Brazilian President Lula da Silva, was aimed at addressing Washington’s decision to impose tariffs as high as 50% on imports from emerging economies, including India and Brazil.

India’s Tough Message

Jaishankar outlined four sharp priorities:

Resilient Supply Chains: Build secure and cooperative systems to avoid shortages in crises.

Fix Trade Deficit: Balance trade within BRICS, especially India’s gap with China.

Reform Global Institutions: UN and others “failed” in crises like COVID-19, wars, and climate change.

Keep Politics Out of Trade: Reject linking commerce with unrelated disputes.

Xi Warns of ‘Trade Wars’

In a veiled attack on the U.S., President Xi said: “Trade wars and tariff wars launched by some countries affect the world economy and undermine global rules.”

India’s Bigger Play

India is set to chair BRICS in 2026 and has already unveiled a blueprint for a “new BRICS” during PM Modi’s address at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio this July. Modi’s vision includes:

Humanity First policies,

Innovation-driven resilience,

Sustainability in climate and health,

Amplifying the Global South’s voice,

Counter-terrorism & economic strength.

Strikingly, Modi likened current world institutions to “a mobile phone with a SIM card but no network” without the participation of the Global South.

Why It Matters

The U.S. tariffs threaten to hit exports from India, Brazil and others.

BRICS, now a bloc of 11 emerging economies, is positioning itself as the alternative voice to Western dominance.

India is pitching itself as both a reformist and a bridge for the Global South.

Exclusive Insight: Monday’s summit signalled a new phase — BRICS is no longer just a forum for cooperation but a platform for collective resistance to Western economic pressure. India’s proactive role suggests it is preparing to lead the bloc into a new era of “fair trade and balanced global governance.”