
BRICS nations slam Trump tariffs, condemn strikes on Iran
The 11 emerging nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, represent about half the world's population and 40 per cent of global economic output.
The bloc is divided about much, but found common cause when it comes to the mercurial US leader and his stop-start tariff wars - even if they avoided naming him directly.
Voicing "serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff" measures, BRICS members said the tariffs risked hurting the global economy, according to a summit joint statement.
They also offered symbolic backing to fellow member Iran, condemning a series of military strikes on nuclear and other targets carried out by Israel and the United States.
In April, Trump threatened allies and rivals alike with a slew of punitive duties, before offering a months-long reprieve in the face of a fierce market sell-off.
Trump has now warned he will impose unilateral levies on partners unless they reach "deals" by Aug 1.
In an apparent concession to US allies such as Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia, the summit declaration did not criticise the United States or its president by name at any point.
NO SHOW
Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, the BRICS have come to be seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to US and Western European power.
But as the group has expanded to include Iran, Saudi Arabia and others, it has struggled to reach meaningful consensus on issues from the Gaza war to challenging US global dominance.
BRICS nations, for example, collectively called for a peaceful two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict - despite Tehran's long-standing position that Israel should be destroyed.
An Iranian diplomatic source said his government's "reservations" had been conveyed to Brazilian hosts. Still, Iran stopped short of rejecting the statement outright.
In perhaps a further sign of the diplomatic sensitivities, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister skipped Sunday's discussions entirely, according to a Brazilian government source.
Saudi Arabia is among the world's leading beneficiaries of high-tech US military exports and is a long-standing US partner.
The political punch of this year's summit has been depleted by the absence of China's Xi Jinping, who skipped the meeting for the first time in his 12 years as president.
The Chinese leader is not the only notable absentee. Russian President Vladimir Putin, charged with war crimes in Ukraine, also opted to stay away, participating via video link.
He told counterparts that BRICS had become a key player in global governance.
The summit also called for regulation governing artificial intelligence and said the technology could not be the preserve of only rich nations.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Farm worker dies after US immigration raid in California
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The raid on the cannabis plantation saw the worker who later died being chased by ICE agents. CAMARILLO, United States - A farm worker has died after being injured during a raid by US immigration agents on a legal cannabis farm in California, his family said on July 12. Raids on agricultural sites on July 10 resulted in the arrests of 200 undocumented migrants , as part of US President Donald Trump's wide-ranging anti-immigration crackdown, and clashes between law enforcement officials and protesters. The farm worker's family had started a page on the fundraising platform Gofundme to help support his relatives in Mexico. On July 12, the page posted an update to say he had 'passed away.' Mr Trump campaigned for the presidency on a harsh anti-immigration platform, likening undocumented migrants to 'animals' and 'monsters', and since taking office he has delivered on promises to conduct a massive deportation drive. On July 11, he called demonstrators involved in attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents 'slimeballs' and said they should be arrested. The chaotic raid on the cannabis plantation in Ventura County, about 90km from Los Angeles, saw the worker who later died being chased by ICE agents, his family said. 'My uncle Jaime was just a hard-working, innocent farmer,' said a post on the Gofundme page. 'He was chased by ICE agents, and we were told he fell 30ft (9m).' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors Singapore Geothermal energy present in S'pore, but greater study on costs, stability needed, say experts Singapore Prison school to NUS: At 36, former drug abuser finds it's never too late to get a degree Singapore Driver arrested after 66-year-old woman dies in car crash at Geylang pasar malam The page described his injuries as 'catastrophic'. Ms Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman, said he was never in custody. 'Although he was not being pursued by law enforcement, this individual climbed up to the roof of a green house and fell 30 feet,' Ms McLaughlin said. '(Customs and Border Patrol) immediately called a medevac to the scene to get him care as quickly as possible.' DHS said 200 undocumented migrants were arrested during raids on marijuana growing sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo on July 10 and 10 children were rescued 'from potential exploitation, forced labour, and human trafficking'. Glass House Brands, which owns the farms, said in a statement that it has 'never knowingly violated applicable hiring practices and does not and has never employed minors'. DHS said more than 500 'rioters' had attempted to disrupt the operation and four US citizens are facing charges for assaulting or resisting officers. Tear gas was used against the protesters, some of whom were seen in television footage throwing projectiles at law enforcement vehicles. The department said immigration agency vehicles were damaged and a US$50,000 (S$64,000) reward was being offered for the arrest of an individual who allegedly fired a gun at law enforcement officers. American dream 'no longer' In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said he had watched footage of 'thugs' throwing rocks and bricks at ICE vehicles, causing 'tremendous damage'. Mr Trump said he was authorising law enforcement officers who are 'on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other form of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so'. 'I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public,' he said. Mr Trump has been involved in a showdown over immigration enforcement with Democratic-ruled California for weeks. The Republican president sent thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June to quell protests against round-ups of undocumented migrants by federal agents. California Governor Gavin Newsom has said the troops were not necessary to address the mostly peaceful protests, but his legal efforts to have them removed have failed so far. The cannabis farm in Camarillo was calm during a visit by an AFP reporter on July 11, as workers waited in line to collect their belongings and pay cheques. 'We've been here since six this morning asking questions but they're not giving us any information,' said Mr Saul Munoz, a 43-year-old Colombian whose son was detained on July 10. 'I just want to know how he's doing,' Mr Munoz said. 'Bring him back to me and if it's time for us to leave, we'll leave. 'The truth is the American dream is no longer really the American dream.' AFP


AsiaOne
3 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Gaza truce talks faltering over withdrawal; 17 reported killed in latest shooting near aid, World News
CAIRO/JERUSALEM/GAZA - Progress is stalling at talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza, with the sides divided over the extent of Israeli forces' withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave, Palestinian and Israeli sources familiar with the negotiations in Doha said on Saturday (July 12). The indirect talks over a US proposal for a 60-day ceasefire continued throughout Saturday, an Israeli official told Reuters, seven days since talks began. US President Donald Trump has said he hoped for a breakthrough soon based on a new US-backed ceasefire proposal. In Gaza, medics said 17 people trying to get food aid were killed on Saturday when Israeli troops opened fire, the latest mass shooting around a US-backed aid distribution system that the UN says has resulted in 800 people killed in six weeks. Witnesses who spoke to Reuters described people being shot in the head and torso. Reuters saw several bodies of victims wrapped in white shrouds as family members wept at Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military said its troops had fired warning shots, but that its review of the incident had found no evidence of anyone hurt by its soldiers' fire. Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Qatar pushing for an agreement which envisages a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals and discussions on ending the war. The Israeli official blamed the impasse on Hamas, which he said "remains stubborn, sticking to positions that do not allow the mediators to advance an agreement". Hamas has previously blamed Israeli demands for blocking a deal. A Palestinian source said that Hamas had rejected withdrawal maps which Israel had proposed that would leave around 40 per cent of Gaza under Israeli control, including all of the southern area of Rafah and further territories in northern and eastern Gaza. Two Israeli sources said Hamas wanted Israel to retreat to lines it held in a previous ceasefire before it renewed its offensive in March. The Palestinian source said aid issues and guarantees on an end to the war were also presenting a challenge. The crisis could be resolved with more US intervention, the source said. Hamas has long demanded an agreement to end the war before it would free remaining hostages; Israel has insisted it would end the fighting only when all hostages are released and Hamas is dismantled as a fighting force and administration in Gaza. Shooting Saturday's reported mass shooting near an aid distribution point in Rafah was the latest in a series of such incidents that the United Nations rights office said on Friday had seen at least 798 people killed trying to get food in six weeks. "We were sitting there, and suddenly there was shooting towards us. For five minutes we were trapped under fire. The shooting was targeted. It was not random. Some people were shot in the head, some in the torso, one guy next to me was shot directly in the heart," eyewitness Mahmoud Makram told Reuters. "There is no mercy there, no mercy. People go because they are hungry but they die and come back in body bags." After partially lifting a total blockade of all goods into Gaza in late May, Israel launched a new aid distribution system, relying on a group backed by the United States to distribute food under the protection of Israeli troops. The United Nations has rejected the system as inherently dangerous and a violation of humanitarian neutrality principles. Israel says it is necessary to keep militants from diverting aid. The war began on Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages there are believed to still be alive. Israel's campaign against Hamas has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, displaced almost the entire population of more than two million people, sparked a humanitarian crisis and left much of the territory in ruins. Thousands of Israelis rallied in central Tel Aviv on Saturday demanding a deal that would release all remaining hostages being held by Hamas. Protester Boaz Levi told Reuters here was there to pressure the government, "to get to a hostage deal as soon as possible because our friends, brothers, are in Gaza and it's about the time to end this war. That is why we are here." [[nid:720064]]

Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump's dealmaker name on the line in high-stakes tariff talks
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox It was US President Donald Trump's second extension since unveiling the tariffs in April. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump set out early in his second term to fulfill a decades-long desire of reshaping US trade with the world, but the main outcomes so far have been discord and uncertainty. The real estate tycoon, who has staked his reputation on being a consummate dealmaker, embarked on an aggressive strategy of punitive tariffs that his administration predicted could bring '90 deals in 90 days'. The score so far? Two. Three if you count a temporary de-escalation agreement with China. The 90-day deadline was due on July 9, with dozens of economies including the European Union, India and Japan facing tariff hikes without a deal. But days before it arrived, Mr Trump issued a delay to Aug 1. It was his second extension since unveiling the tariffs in April – reigniting the 'TACO Theory' that has gained traction among some Wall Street traders. The acronym coined by a Financial Times writer stands for 'Trump Always Chickens Out,' highlighting the president's inclination to roll back policies if markets turn sour. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Singapore Prison school to NUS: At 36, former drug abuser finds it's never too late to get a degree Singapore Bland and boring? Some hospitals seek help from big names to enhance food menus for patients Asia Patriotism, peace and pain: The politics behind China's World War II narrative World US slaps 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico; EU warns of countermeasures Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, part of Mr Trump's multi-leader trade team, has reportedly been a key advocate for the pauses. But the label has irked Mr Trump and he insisted on July 8 that the deadline had always been in August. 'I didn't make a change. A clarification, maybe,' he said at a cabinet meeting. This week, he published more than 20 letters dictating tariff rates to world leaders including in Japan, South Korea and Indonesia. 'We invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World, by far,' he wrote. He also issued letters to the EU, Canada, Mexico and Brazil – although Brazil was not previously targeted by the steeper 'reciprocal' tariffs and Canada and Mexico face a separate tariff regime. The documents 'appear to be Trump's way of combatting the TACO label,' said Ms Inu Manak, a fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. 'He wants to show that he's not just kicking the can down the road on the deadline, but that he means business,' she told AFP. 'He's likely frustrated that there isn't a parade of deals coming in.' 'Politically complicated' 'The shift in his rhetoric from 'there is no cost – the foreigners pay the tariffs' to 'there is a short-term cost, but there will be a long-term gain' has put him in a more politically complicated position,' said Mr William Reinsch, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed that foreign countries foot the bill for tariffs, although the reality is more complicated with US companies generally paying them. 'In the public's mind, the tariffs are the pain, and the agreements will be the gain,' said Mr Reinsch, a former US commerce official. He warned that without trade agreements, Americans could conclude Mr Trump's strategy was flawed and deem his tactics a failure. While the 90-deal goal was probably unrealistic, Mr Reinsch said, 'it's clear that three (UK, China, Vietnam) with only one actual text made public (UK) is too small.' Deflecting attention Meanwhile, Mr Trump has announced a 50 per cent levy on copper imports starting Aug 1. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said officials would also conclude investigations into semiconductors and pharmaceuticals – which could lead to tariffs – at month-end. 'That timing is not coincidental – it lines up with the new deadline of Aug 1, adding more pressure and deflecting attention from any lack of deals that get made in that time frame,' Ms Manak said. Analysts believe Mr Trump's supporters will likely not pay much attention to trade talks unless the tariffs fuel inflation. 'Trade policy is not top-of-mind for the average voter,' said Ms Emily Benson, head of strategy at Minerva Technology Futures. She expects the Trump administration's focus on boosting US manufacturing and reinvigorating the defence industrial base means it could be willing to bear some political heat to achieve those objectives. But it is a delicate balance. Voters will likely pay more attention if Trump follows through on his August tariff threats, Ms Manak said. 'And we could see a negative market reaction as well, which would not go unnoticed.' AFP