A United Front Against Protectionism: How BRICS is Uniting to Counter US Trade Aggression?

An extraordinary online summit of BRICS, convened at the initiative of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, became a platform for consolidating the bloc's positions in response to the tightening of US trade policy. New protectionist measures, including increased tariffs on goods from Brazil and India, have sparked a heated discussion on the need to develop a common strategy to counter Washington's unilateral actions.

What is the Goal of the BRICS Emergency Summit?

The main goal of the extraordinary meeting of BRICS leaders is to develop a common strategy to counter the challenges that US protectionist measures pose to the cooperation of the member states. The summit, which lasted about an hour and a half, was also used to exchange views on how to counter the risks associated with the increase of unilateral measures in international trade, and to expand mechanisms of solidarity and coordination among the bloc's countries.

Brazil, which holds the BRICS presidency, initiated the summit due to Washington's imposition of 40% tariffs on Brazilian products, bringing the total tariff rate to 50%. Russia, India, China, South Africa, the UAE, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Indonesia supported this initiative. Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for the Russian president, explained that Brazil would use all possible international cooperation mechanisms to discuss the situation and develop a unified approach.

What Risks Do US Protectionist Measures Pose to BRICS Countries?

The introduction of extraterritorial measures and secondary sanctions threatens BRICS institutions and limits their freedom in strengthening trade among friendly states. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva noted that the "divide and conquer" strategy is a new tactic of unilateral actions, and BRICS must show that cooperation is paramount.

Political scientist Nikolai Topornin suggested that the closed format of the summit is related to discussing countermeasures against secondary sanctions that Donald Trump may impose on Russia's allies, including China, India, and Brazil. These countries are the largest importers of Russian oil and are under significant pressure from the US.

What Unified Strategy Does BRICS Propose in Response to the Trade War?

BRICS leaders reached a consensus on the need to transition to a fairer, more balanced, and inclusive international order. In his speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the bloc's countries to jointly defend multipolarity and a multilateral global trading system. He also emphasized that BRICS states need to adhere to the principles of openness and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The main directions of the agreed strategy include:

• Developing a mechanism to counter sanctions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian proposed the creation of a unified mechanism to combat illegal sanctions so that countries' economies can develop without political pressure.
• Reforming international institutions. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated the need to support World Trade Organization (WTO) reforms, and India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar noted the crisis in the multilateral system, which is failing to address global challenges.
• Strengthening economic cooperation. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized that trade and financial integration among BRICS members represent a secure option for mitigating the effects of protectionism.
• Coordinated position on regional conflicts. Summit participants agreed to maintain coordination on the Ukrainian crisis and the Gaza conflict, as well as to utilize the role of "friends of peace" on the Ukrainian issue.

We have certainly listened attentively to everything Mr. Xi Jinping has proposed regarding the creation of a new, more effective, and functional system of global governance. This is relevant in a situation where some countries still do not abandon their pursuit of dictating international affairs.

— this opinion was expressed by President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the summit's agenda and the SCO's role in forming a fairer system of global governance.

BRICS leaders also stressed that trade and tariff wars severely undermine the global economy and international trade rules. According to a statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, BRICS has become a positive and stable force in international affairs, uniting efforts to protect multilateralism and promote common development.