Trump warns BRICS countries of potential 100% tariff if they ditch U.S. dollar

President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on the BRICS coalition of non-Western countries if they move away from trading using the U.S. dollar. The BRICS alliance includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with more countries recently invited to join. The issue of “de-dollarization” has gained momentum within the group. However, experts are skeptical that BRICS could successfully create its own global trade currency due to infighting and economic differences among its members. Despite this, some BRICS countries, such as India and China, are major trading partners of the United States. Trump’s threats of tariffs are part of his strategy to address issues such as the fentanyl crisis and drug trafficking. He recently threatened to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China for various reasons. Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and discussed the drug epidemic and cooperation to address the issue. Mexican President Sheinbaum responded to Trump’s threats with a call for cooperation and understanding to address migration and drug consumption issues. There was controversy over the details of a phone conversation between Sheinbaum and Trump, with both leaders presenting different accounts of the discussion. Ultimately, the discussions between these countries reflect the complexities of international relations and economic policies in response to global challenges.

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