Trump threatened BRICS with duties as they attempt to replace the dollar in global trade

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Jan. 30 that the U.S. will impose import duties of 100 percent against the BRICS if the grouping tries to replace the dollar in global trade.

"We are going to require these seemingly hostile countries to give a commitment that they will not create a new BRICS currency or support any other currency to replace the mighty US dollar, or they will face duties of 100% and have to say goodbye to the ability to sell [goods] to the wonderful American economy," he wrote on his Truth Social media page.

Trump emphasized that the U.S. will not allow the dollar to be replaced in international trade and warned that countries that attempt to do so will face harsh trade measures.

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Earlier, on January 21, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that Trump's statements about duties for BRICS and withdrawal from a number of agreements indicate by what methods the US side will promote its interests. According to him, Washington's interests on the world stage remain unchanged regardless of who holds the presidency - Democrats or Republicans. The main goal is to always surpass its competitors, he emphasized.

On November 30, 2024, Trump threatened BRICS countries with duties on trade with Washington if they abandoned the dollar in favor of the future new BRICS currency or other currencies. He then noted that such a measure would be taken if the members of the association decided to create their own currency.

Later, December 1, the head of the Federation Council Commission on Information Policy, Alexei Pushkov, called the introduction of duties on goods of BRICS countries unrealizable in practice. According to him, this threat is unrealistic because the United States is economically dependent on globalization and imports.