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The BRICS nations convened an emergency virtual summit yesterday (September 8), hosted by Brazilian President Lula da Silva, to discuss the situation concerning the United States imposition of trade tariffs on multiple countries including BRICS members. The meeting lasted about 90 minutes.
All ten full BRICS members were present, represented by Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, Russian President Putin, the Indian External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Chinese President Xi Jinping, the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Ethiopian Deputy Foreign Minister Mesganu Arega.
In this article we provide summaries of what was said, with links to the complete speeches, and provide analysis as to the intent and likely outcomes.
Brazil
US tariffs on Brazil: 50%
The Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hosted the summit and made hard-hitting comments about the current state of global trade affairs, saying that “It is increasingly clear that the governance crisis is not a temporary issue. The pillars of the international order created in 1945 are being undermined at an accelerated and irresponsible rate, while the World Trade Organization has been paralyzed for years. In just a few weeks, unilateral measures rendered fundamental principles of free trade, such as the Most Favoured Nation and National Treatment clauses, are now dead. We are witnessing the formal burial of these principles. Our countries have become victims of unjustified and illegal trade practices, while tariff blackmail is being normalized as a tool to conquer markets and interfere in domestic affairs. The imposition of extraterritorial measures threatens our institutions, secondary sanctions restrict our freedom to strengthen trade with friendly countries, and to divide and conquer is the strategy of unilateralism.”
Counterbalancing this, he said was the BRICS: “It is up to BRICS to show that cooperation overcomes any form of rivalry, and that mutually agreed rules and norms are essential for development. Trade and financial integration between our countries offer a safe option to mitigate the effects of protectionism. Together, we represent 40% of global GDP, 26% of international trade and almost 50% of the world’s population. We have among us large exporters and consumers of energy. We have the necessary conditions to promote green industrialization, which generates jobs and income in our countries, especially in high-tech sectors. We have 33% of arable land and are responsible for 42% of global agricultural production. The BRICS Bank is increasingly contributing to the diversification of our economic bases and the promotion of a fair and sovereign transition.
We therefore have the necessary legitimacy to lead the refoundation of the multilateral trading system on modern, flexible bases geared to our development needs.”
Lula finished his speech by adding “The Global South is in a position to propose alternative global development strategies and head off a new Cold War. BRICS is now the new name for defending multilateralism.”
Lula’s speech in full can be read here.
Russia
US Tariffs on Russia: 35%, plus 7,392 sanctions
The Russian Presidential spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated that President Putin’s comments would not be made public due to the sensitivity of the situation as concerns US sanctions and discussions with the United States concerning Ukraine. However, it is already well known that Putin is for the continuing development of BRICS and the push to find new markets away from the United States and overall European trade and economic influences, which are currently regarded in Russia as toxic.
India
US Tariffs on India: 50%
The Indian External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, stated the Indian position as concerns BRICS, emphasising that economic practices globally must be fair, transparent, and benefit all countries. He called for a constructive and cooperative approach to trade—rejecting barriers and non-trade linkages—and highlighted the importance of resilient supply chains and democratizing access to manufacturing. Jaishankar underscored that the world is facing serious challenges from conflict, volatility, and climate, and urged the protection of an open, fair, and rules-based international trading system, especially for developing countries.
He added that the BRICS should “proof global trade against market shocks” and that this meant creating more resilient, reliable, and shorter supply chains, adding that global trade should “democratize manufacturing and production and encourage growth in different geographies.” He also stated that the BRICS focus is on stabilising the international economy and the world order.
His comments may be viewed here.
China
US tariffs on China: Over 1,000 sanctioned companies, 30% tariffs, has threatened 245%.
The Chinese President Xi Jinping made a statement titled “Forging Ahead in Solidarity and Cooperation,” noting that a once in a century transformation is accelerating globally, with unilateralism, and protectionism getting out of hand. He stated that “BRICS countries should act on openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, defend multilateralism and the multilateral trading system, advance greater BRICS cooperation, and build a community with a shared future for humanity.” He also implied that the BRICS represented the Global South and said that “Multilateralism is the shared aspiration of the people and the overarching trend of our time.”
Xi called for extensive consultation and joint contribution with the United Nations and WTO to resolve problems, to cement the foundations of multilateralism, while representation of Global South countries should be enhanced.
His full speech can be seen here.
South Africa
US Tariffs on South Africa: 30%
President Ramaphosa stated that unilateral tariff actions are contributing to an increasingly protectionist environment which poses great hardships and danger for the countries of the Global South and is an obstacle to our economic growth. He added that these strategies constrain developing economies to remain locked into the lower end of global value chains.
He stated that South Africa is supportive of BRICS initiatives that improve the resilience of our economies as BRICS countries and those of the Global South and strengthen the global multilateral system. He added that South Africa’s focus is on strengthening and collaboratively diversifying our trade and investment partnerships with Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and that it wants to see Africa as the beating heart of global trade engaging the world “not as a mere exporter of raw materials, but as a creator of value.”
He added that a “BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy” should be developed to send a clear message that all BRICS members are committed to mutually beneficial trade that addresses the needs and interests of all its members, saying that “A commitment on the part of all of us to sustainably address our various non-tariff barriers would position BRICS as a stable and predictable mutually beneficial trading partner amidst the current global disruptions.”
Ramaphosa’s full speech can be read here.
Egypt
US Tariffs on Egypt: 10%
The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi stated that “The international landscape is now plagued by blatant duality of standards and flagrant violation of the provisions of international law. This is occurring without the slightest regard for accountability, under a system of impunity and an alarming escalation of unilateralism and protectionist measures.
This regression undermines the very foundations of international peace and security. It pushes humanity back into a state of disorder and lawlessness, solidifying the use of force as a means to impose will and achieve objectives, all at the expense of legitimacy and justice.”
He also called for additional coordination amongst the BRICS nations, including with trade finance and to concentrate on the use of sovereign currencies as opposed to the US dollar in multilateral BRICS trade.
His full speech can be read here.
Iran
US Tariffs on Iran: Global Trade Embargo
Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of Iran spoke about the need to reform the global financial system, stating that “BRICS should lead a comprehensive reform of international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, so that they reflect global economic realities in the face of illegal unilateral sanctions and to continue developing their economies without being subjected to unfair political pressure. Rebuilding the current world order requires serious reforms in global governance, from revising the composition and functions of the UN Security Council to restructuring the international financial and monetary system. Groups like BRICS and other Global South institutions have a special responsibility in leading the transition toward a multipolar, democratic, and just order where the voices of all countries, especially developing nations, are heard.”
He added that a combination of the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization could play a key role in this effort.
Iran has endured decades of US sanctions that restrict its access to global markets, including its main export, oil.
Indonesia
US Tariffs on Indonesia: 19%
The Indonesian President, Prabowo Subianto Prabowo underscored that the BRICS collective economic power, large population, expansive markets, and abundant natural resources make it a formidable force in shaping the future of global politics and economics.
He also stressed the importance of openness, coordination, and close cooperation among BRICS members in tackling global uncertainty. He called on BRICS nations to embrace their moral responsibility in creating a more equitable and balanced world order, emphasizing the need for more frequent consultations, saying “We must continue to strengthen our collaboration. We must consult with one another more frequently. BRICS has a moral duty to lead the way toward a fairer global order.”
Ethiopia
US Tariffs on Ethiopia: 10%
The Ethiopian presentation has not at this time been made public, however the country has previously called for reform, with Prime Minister Abiy stating in June this year that there was need to reform global decision-making institutions, including multilateral financial institutions and the UN Security Council, to ensure equitable representation of developing countries, especially from Africa. He indicated BRICS countries should continue playing their aspirational role in order to advance peace, prosperity and their collective security.
United Arab Emirates
US Tariffs on UAE: Varies upon product: 10%-50%
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, representing Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, underlining that the BRICS serves as a vital framework for collective international action, driving development for its member states and people, while advancing shared global prosperity, in alignment with the UAE’s commitment to building economic and trade partnerships that further enhance sustainable development and deliver growth and prosperity for all nations.
A short video, in Arabic, of the Crown Prince’s comments can be seen here.
Other Commitments
Collectively, the BRICS countries also agreed to expand the role of the “Friends of Peace” group in resolving the Ukraine conflict and unanimously gave their support for the “Two States for Two Peoples” plan on the Palestinian issue, advocating for peace and stability in the Middle East. That latter issue puts them into direct opposition to the United States, Israel, and much of the European Union. This will become a hotly debated issue at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
Summary
Criticism
Western media has tried to downplay the meeting, with many concentrating instead on the issue that the Indian Prime Minister Modi was not present, instead having his Foreign Minister provide India’s perspective. They used Modi’s absence to suggest he had argued with China’s President Xi in Beijing last week – whereas in fact the two seemed to get on very well. India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, who stood in for Modi, is already well known to the BRICS group and is a highly respected economist. In fact, Modi was attending the annual conference for India’s National Democratic Alliance, a long standing domestic political engagement with the largest political party in the country.
Others pointed out that none of the BRICS countries openly criticised the US President, while many did not mention the United States at all – a typical diplomatic approach. There have been insinuations that this was so as not to ‘enrage’ Trump, however this is a collection of highly experienced leaders – banging the table and making insults is not BRICS behaviour – in contrast to standard rhetoric coming from the West. While that milder approach may signify weakness by some commentators, it remains more diplomatically helpful when attempting to negotiate complex issues.
BRICS Virtual Summit Objectives & Deliverables
The collective BRICS virtual summit appears to have been a working platform to rally calls throughout the Global South as an appeal to work together at the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation to resolve difficulties.
The opportunity to press for this will come very soon, as the 80th United Nations General Assembly is to take place in New York on September 23, where World Leaders will have their say. In this regard, the BRICS Virtual Summit can be regarded as a pre-UN rallying call to make sure that everyone is on the same page and will be pushing for reform. That suggests that the BRICS diplomatic push will be extremely active over the coming two weeks as they rally the Global South behind them to make clear a case for change and to summon significant amounts of pressure to be put on the United States to move away from a unipolar approach. Trump will be attending.
In this instance, the BRICS Virtual Summit was a precursor to the main event – the UN General Assembly.
What Happens Next?
This depends upon the results at the United Nations General Assembly. If the BRICS virtual summit is anything to go by, it is going to be a hot one. We will have to wait to see what transpires; but should the ‘Global Majority’ speak out in criticising the United States, then US long term policy will be influenced. With Trump there, and due to speak, almost anything is possible – he is not a man who takes criticism lightly. However, as the Brazilian President stated yesterday, now is the opportunity for the Global South to make itself heard. We will soon learn how loud that voice is – or is not – and the implications of what that means at the month end.
But the coming UN General Assembly is also now focused on a very important issue – will the Western nations get behind and support reform – or not. The BRICS summit has therefore made a soft ultimatum. Despite the lack of finger-pointing, the underlying message is unanimous: there needs to be UN and WTO reform, or the global trading system will collapse.
Interestingly, at the BRICS side of this, mechanisms have already been proposed – and supported – by the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation just last week. Except for Brazil (whose President yesterday also suggested the BRICS works in tandem with the SCO) the BRICS founding partners – Russia, India and China – are all founding partners of the SCO.
They all approved of Chinese President Xi’s introduction of a ‘Global Governance Initiative’ a policy that lays out a structure for improved management and direction of global affairs, and especially within trade. While this document stresses the need to work with the United Nations, if the UN – and this will come to a head at this month end – proves unable to reform, then there will be a global crisis of confidence as regards the credibility of the UN itself as remaining suitable for fulfilling its stated mandate of “maintaining international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations, foster international cooperation to solve global problems, and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.”
If the Global South at the UN General Assembly feel that it is no longer fit for purpose and is unable or does not want to reform – then that will usher in an entirely different set of events. But there is another aspect that should be taken into consideration: the BRICS are prepared. The Global Governance Initiative exists, and it may yet become an alternative. We will soon learn what will happen on September 23, when all the Global South’s frustrations are given a very public, global platform to voice their opinions. Will they roll over? Or will they fight?
Note: Articles like this take many hours to prepare. Our analysis comes with decades of regional experience and professional expertise. When using our content, kindly refer to Russia’s Pivot To Asia as the source. Enquiries? Email us at info@russiaspivottoasia.com
Further Reading
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