China And BRICS React As Trump Raises Trade War Stakes

In an already geopolitically tense context marked by increasing economic tensions, Donald Trump has reignited trade hostilities and is once again targeting the BRICS. The American president described the economic alliance as “dead” and threatened to strike its members with a 100 % tax on their exports to the United States if they continued to challenge the supremacy of the dollar. This statement immediately provoked a diplomatic response from China, which denounced destructive protectionism and affirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation among emerging economies.

Trump reignites the trade war against the BRICS

The tone of Donald Trump is unequivocal. Thus, during a recent intervention, the American president launched a frontal attack against the BRICS, asserting that “the BRICS are dead and if they want to play with the dollar, they will be hit with a 100 % tax.” His remarks refer to initiatives taken by several member countries of the bloc, notably China and Russia, which are seeking to bypass the dollar in their international transactions. The former occupant of the White House, known for his protectionist positions, thus threatens to close the American market to BRICS exports if they continue on this path.

Indeed, Trump’s announcement fits into a larger logic of commercial confrontation with emerging powers. During his first term, he had already imposed massive tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum, which led to economic reprisals. Today, this rhetoric integrates into a context where the BRICS are gaining influence and seeking to strengthen their financial autonomy in order to move away from the dollar-dominated monetary system. The threat of a 100 % tariff is therefore perceived as a strong signal sent to the bloc’s partners: any deviation from the American financial system will be severely sanctioned.

China responds: “No one wins in a trade war”

In response to Trump’s statements, Beijing did not take long to react. Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denounced a counterproductive protectionist approach. He reminded that “trade and tariff wars only harm the common interests of the peoples of all countries.” Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of economic cooperation within the BRICS. For China, this American threat is a new example of Washington’s attempts to impose a unilateral economic order, to the detriment of emerging economies.

However, Beijing believes that this attack rather reinforces the need for increased financial autonomy for the BRICS. In recent months, the bloc has multiplied initiatives to diversify its exchanges by using local currencies and accelerate discussions around a payment system independent of the dollar. Such a development could further weaken the influence of the United States on international exchanges and encourage other nations to reduce their dependence on the greenback.

If Trump maintains his position, the countries of the BRICS may be forced to accelerate their transition to a less dollar-dependent economic model. This trade escalation could favor the rise of cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies (CBDC), already under development in several countries of the bloc. Such an evolution would mark a major break with the current financial order, by reducing American influence on international trade. On the other hand, the imposition of such drastic tariffs could lead to rising prices for American consumers and a weakening of trade exchanges. Historically, such protectionist policies have often led to increased economic tensions and retaliatory measures from the targeted countries. As China and its BRICS partners continue to explore alternatives to the current monetary system, the looming trade war could well be the prelude to a new global financial era.