U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new 10% tariff on Nigeria for aligning with BRICS, a global economic bloc he accuses of adopting “anti-American” policies, NaijNaira can report.
Trump made the statement via his Truth Social account on Sunday, raising fresh concerns over Nigeria–U.S. trade relations.
As reported, Trump did not clarify which BRICS policies he finds hostile, though he insisted there will be “no exceptions” to the tariff hike.
Nigeria joined BRICS as a partner country on January 17, 2025, becoming the ninth nation to obtain that status.
The BRICS bloc now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia.
The announcement comes as BRICS leaders meet in Rio de Janeiro, where they criticized what they called “unjustified” tariff threats without naming the U.S. directly.
They warned such actions could “distort trade and harm global economic stability.”
At the summit, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for BRICS and called for “financial restructuring and reevaluation of global systems.”
“We must be the architects of a future that addresses the specific needs and concerns of youths,” Tinubu said in a speech.
He added that Nigeria would pursue climate reform, renewable energy, and fairer healthcare systems alongside other BRICS members.
Tinubu also emphasized that Africa “has contributed the least to global emissions but suffers the most,” pushing for justice in climate negotiations.
He expressed confidence that initiatives like the African Carbon Market and the Great Green Wall will lead to better outcomes at COP-30.
Trump’s tariff policy, originally delayed in April, is now set to begin August 1 for nations that haven’t reached trade deals with the U.S.
With that deadline approaching, analysts warn of potential strain between the U.S. and countries seeking alternative economic partnerships through BRICS.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
