Brazilian President Lula Rebukes Trump Tariff Threats After BRICS Summit

US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 10% tariff on any country aligning with what he termed the 'anti-American policies of BRICS,' a growing bloc of ten nations including Brazil, Russia, China, India, and South Africa. This threat came as the BRICS summit concluded in Rio de Janeiro, where leaders emphasized reducing reliance on the US dollar and fostering a multipolar global order. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strongly rebuked Trump's tariff threat, denouncing it as imperial behavior and insisting that the world does not need an 'emperor,' but rather respect for national sovereignty and mutual cooperation. Lula also rejected interference in Brazil's internal affairs, pushing back against Trump's support for former President Jair Bolsonaro amid his legal troubles. Other nations targeted by US tariffs, including Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, have engaged in tense negotiations with the US, with varied responses ranging from seeking balanced agreements to outright resistance. The dispute highlights a significant geopolitical divide between Trump's America-first approach and the BRICS bloc's push for a new economic order less dominated by Western institutions.