Foreign ministers from the BRICS group of developing nations were unable to agree on a joint communique during their recent meeting. Instead, Brazil, which currently holds the chair, released a statement condemning trade protectionism.
In the statement issued from the gathering in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil noted that the ministers expressed “serious concern at the prospect of a fragmented global economy and the weakening of multilateralism.” While the statement did not directly mention the United States, it implicitly criticized the protectionist shift under President Donald Trump, whose unilateral tariff policies have sparked fears of a global economic slowdown.
“The ministers voiced serious concerns about the rise of unjustified unilateral protectionist measures inconsistent with WTO rules, including indiscriminate raising of reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff measures,” the statement said.
A diplomatic source described the failure to issue a joint declaration as unexpected but said there is still time to resolve disagreements before the BRICS leaders convene in Rio this July.
The expanded BRICS group now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with six new members: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. Together, they face growing challenges from U.S. trade measures.
The chair’s statement voiced strong concerns over “unjustified unilateral protectionist measures” that violate World Trade Organization rules, citing the indiscriminate use of tariffs and non-tariff barriers. According to a source involved in the talks, China—burdened by steep U.S. tariffs of up to 145%—had advocated for a more forceful tone.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira insisted there was general consensus among the 11 nations, as reflected in the chair’s statement. However, the document ultimately fell short of being a full joint declaration, due to disagreements on specific issues, particularly United Nations reform.
Egypt and Ethiopia reportedly objected to language supporting reforms to the UN Security Council—a long-standing goal for Brazil, India, and South Africa. The resistance highlighted the diverse perspectives now present in the expanded alliance, with some newer members opposing the idea of positioning South Africa as a preferred candidate for a reformed Council.
Despite the differences, Brazilian diplomats emphasized the importance of a united stance against what they see as “unjustified” trade barriers, including the misuse of environmental policies as tools of protectionism.
“The main thing for BRICS is to ensure that the multilateral trade system doesn’t fall apart completely”, a diplomat told Reuters.
