Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will host a virtual meeting of BRICS leaders on September 8, 2025, to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies, particularly the high tariffs imposed on member nations. The summit aims to strategize a collective response to the U.S. tariffs and reinforce multilateralism among the bloc’s emerging economies, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The BRICS coalition—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newer members Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates—faces varying tariff rates from the U.S., complicating a unified stance. Brazil and India, for instance, are grappling with 50% tariffs, with Brazil’s penalties tied to Trump’s objections to the legal proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro, while India faces additional 25% tariffs for purchasing Russian oil. China, the largest BRICS member, faces potential tariffs as high as 145% if no trade deal is reached.
Lula’s agenda emphasizes not only countering these tariffs but also rallying support for multilateral cooperation to strengthen the bloc’s global influence. However, differing tariff impacts and strategic priorities among members, such as India’s rejection of de-dollarization, may hinder a joint statement. The meeting follows recent high-level talks among China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, and Russia’s Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, signaling efforts to align against U.S. trade pressure.
Trump’s tariff policies, including threats of an additional 10% levy on countries aligning with BRICS’ “anti-American policies,” have sparked concerns about global trade disruptions. The U.S. president has also warned of 100% tariffs if BRICS nations pursue a currency to rival the U.S. dollar, a move some members like China and Russia support, but others, like India, oppose.
Brazilian officials stress that Lula does not intend the summit to be an anti-U.S. platform but rather a forum to protect BRICS economies and promote a multipolar world order. The outcome of the meeting could shape the bloc’s future coordination on trade and its response to U.S. economic policies.
