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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday criticised US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose higher tariffs on BRICS nations, calling efforts to “punish” the bloc “disappointing.”
Trump had accused the 11-nation BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, and China, of “anti-Americanism.” His threat of an additional 10 per cent tariff followed the bloc’s condemnation of his existing levies at a recent summit in Rio de Janeiro.
BRICS Seeks Cooperation, Not Competition, Says Ramaphosa
Speaking to the South African public broadcaster SABC, Ramaphosa asserted that “BRICS does not seek to compete with any other power.”
He explained that the bloc advocates for “the emergence of various centres of power in the world” and found it “disappointing” that some perceive this negatively and “want to punish those who participate in this.”
Ramaphosa emphasised a principle of global cooperation: “There should never be vengeance. There should never be retribution against countries that are seeking to cooperate and to advance the interests of humanity.”
Trump’s anger stemmed from the BRICS summit’s joint statement, which expressed “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff measures.
Trump also announced his intention to send letters on Monday detailing high tariffs for up to 15 countries that have not reached trade agreements with the United States.
Ramaphosa concluded by stating, “It cannot be that might should now be right.”
