Nigeria is set to join senior diplomats from BRICS nations for a critical two-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, starting Monday, where they will present a united front against the aggressive trade policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The discussions come at a pivotal moment for the global economy, following the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) decision to revise down its growth forecast due to the impact of Trump’s sweeping tariffs, which were announced earlier this week. The BRICS bloc, which includes Brazil (currently serving as president), Russia, India, China, and South Africa, will meet ahead of the leaders’ summit scheduled for July.
Brazil’s BRICS representative, Mauricio Lyrio, revealed that the ministers are negotiating a declaration to reaffirm the importance of a multilateral trading system in the face of rising protectionism. Lyrio shared his thoughts with reporters on Saturday, highlighting the group’s collective focus on maintaining global trade stability.
Since its inception in 2009, BRICS has expanded significantly, now including Iran, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc represents nearly half of the world’s population and accounts for 39 percent of global GDP, further amplifying its influence on global economic matters.
The ongoing trade dispute with the U.S. has intensified under Trump’s leadership. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed a blanket 10 percent tariff on a wide array of countries, with China facing tariffs of up to 145 percent on certain products. In retaliation, Beijing has levied duties of 125 percent on U.S. goods. The U.S. president has also threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on BRICS countries if they undermine the U.S. dollar.
The meeting, hosted by Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, will also feature Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, China’s Wang Yi, and other senior diplomats from the BRICS nations. The gathering will begin at 11:00 am (1400 GMT), with an official statement expected later in the afternoon.
In addition to trade, climate change is anticipated to be a significant topic of discussion, especially with the United Nations COP30 climate summit scheduled for November in Brazil’s Amazonian city of Belem. The BRICS nations are also expected to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, as Trump seeks to push Russia and Ukraine toward a peace agreement.
On Tuesday, the BRICS discussions will expand to include nine “partner” countries, including several former Soviet states, as well as Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Nigeria.
