New York: President Donald Trump has threatened an additional ten per cent tariff on countries associated with BRICS because he feels that the group is<\/b>
\nPresident Donald Trump has threatened an additional ten per cent tariff on countries associated with BRICS because he feels that the group is \u201cseeking to undermine\u201d US interests, according to his Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
Asked on Monday what specific policies Trump was referring to when he announced the tariffs threat on Truth Social, she said, \u201cThe President feels, generally speaking, that BRICS is seeking to undermine the interests of the United States\u201d.
\u201cHe\u2019s closely monitoring it, which is why he put out a statement himself\u201d, she said.
Trump posted on the social media late Sunday night, \u201cAny Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an additional 10 per cent tariff.\u201d
He did not specify the policies that he considered \u201cAnti-American\u201d.
The threat came within hours of BRICS leaders\u2019 joint declaration that they \u201cvoice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO [World Trade Organisation] rules\u201d.
The statement did not name the US and also took aim at the European Union and other Western countries that practice \u201cprotectionism under the guise of environmental objectives\u201d, which Trump also opposes.
Another criticism directed against Washington was condemning the military strikes against Iran, also without naming the US.
Earlier, he had warned BRICS against trying to create its own currency to replace the dollar for trade.
But that currency proposal was shot down by India, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying there was no policy to replace the dollar as the reserve currency because it \u201cis the source of international economic stability\u201d.
Asked if he was threatening action against BRICS because it was getting stronger, Leavitt said, \u201cHe does not perceive these countries as growing stronger. He just perceives them as trying to undermine the United States interests. And that\u2019s not okay with him, no matter how strong or weak a country may be.\u201d
The letter he sent on Monday to South Africa about imposing higher tariffs did not mention any special penalty for BRICS membership, and only said a 30 per tariff would come into effect from August 1 unless an agreement is reached.
For BRICS partner Malaysia, he said he will impose a 25 per cent tariff from August 1 and made no mention of the proposed BRICS penalty.
In addition to Japan and Korea, for whom he also imposed 25 per cent tariffs, Leavitt said 12 more countries will get letters on Monday about tariffs.
India was not among the five whose letters were posted on Truth Social as of Monday afternoon, but seven more were to come.
Negotiations were taking place with all these countries and these letters, in effect, extend Wednesday\u2019s deadline for a final agreement to August 1.
\u201cThis delay again is in the best interest of the American people,\u201d Leavitt said.
\u201cThe President\u2019s phone, I can tell you, rings off the hook from world leaders all the time who are begging him to come to a deal, and this administration is working hard to ensure those deals are in the best interest of the American People,\u201d she added.
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