China on Monday clarified that the aim of the BRICS organization is not to create any kind of confrontational situation. This reaction came after former US President Donald Trump’s statement in which he threatened to impose an additional 10% duty on countries adopting an “anti-American” stance.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning told news agency AFP that China has made it clear many times that there are no winners in a conflict waged on the basis of trade and tariffs, and protectionist policies do not benefit anyone.
Beijing’s statement comes at a time when Trump has warned of imposing tough tariffs on countries that, in his view, are supporting BRICS’ “anti-American” strategies. Trump’s remarks came after the BRICS 2025 summit held in Brazil, in which member countries called the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran’s military and nuclear bases “illegal”.
China also reiterated that it is inappropriate to use tariffs as a tool of political pressure. “Tariffs are not in anyone’s interest,” Mao Ning said again during a regular press briefing, Reuters reported.