President Donald Trump has announced that Nigeria will be among countries facing an additional 10% tariff for aligning with what he described as the “anti-American policies of BRICS.”
President Trump made the declaration on Sunday via a post on Truth Social, adding fresh uncertainty to global trade relations.
Trump’s announcement, which did not elaborate on any specific policy of BRICS, came as the group’s meeting was underway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Brazilian government, on January 17, 2025, announced the formal admission of Nigeria as a partner country of the grouping.
Nigeria became the ninth partner country of BRICS, joining Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. This partner-country category was created during the 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan in October 2024.
No exception of policy – Trump
The bloc’s leaders appeared to aim for Trump’s sweeping tariff policies in a joint statement on Sunday, warning against “unjustified unilateral protectionist measures, including the indiscriminate increase of reciprocal tariffs.”
Without calling out the U.S., the leaders voiced “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules,” warning that the “proliferation of trade-restrictive actions” threatens to disrupt the global economy and worsen the existing economic disparities.
“Any Country aligning itself with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social Sunday evening, stateside.
At the Summit, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the BRICS partnership and the Global South.
In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu declared: “Nigeria, therefore, associates with what I have heard today and all that has happened in BRICS. The next issues are financial restructuring and reevaluation of the global structure.”
He noted that environmental degradation, climate crisis, and global healthcare inequalities were shared concerns pertinent to Africa.
“Africa has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” he added.
President Tinubu emphasised the need for a new path of justice, anchored in fairness, sustainable technology transfer, and accessible financing so that emerging economies can fully benefit from various initiatives.
“The African continent is creating the path through the African Carbon Market Initiative and the Great Green Wall. We believe that COP-30 will strengthen our resolve to adopt a strategic approach to achieving a healthy global environment.
Nigeria strongly believes in South-South cooperation. We can, therefore, not be passive participants in global decision-making on financial restructuring, debt forgiveness, climate change, environmental issues, and healthcare.
“We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths, who represent 70 per cent of our population in Nigeria. Therefore, Nigeria remains guided by our long-term vision, 2050, and nationally determined contribution.
“We are taking bold steps to accelerate renewable energy adoption, mainstream climate action, promote nature-based solutions, strengthen urban resilience, champion South-South cooperation, align with the global renewal framework, and achieve universal health coverage for all,” the President stated.
President Tinubu also said that addressing non-communicable diseases must remain a collective health concern.
