US President Donald Trump reiterated Thursday his threat to place 100 per cent tariffs on BRICS nations as the deadline loomed for him to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
Trump had previously threatened 100 per cent tariffs on BRICS nations -- a bloc including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- if they created a rival to the US dollar, which he doubled down Thursday night.
"The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar, while we stand by and watch, is OVER," he posted on his Truth Social platform.
"We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar, or they will face 100% Tariffs," he continued.
Trump's comments on possible BRICS tariffs came days before a February 1 deadline he set shortly after taking office, whereupon he would place 25 per cent tariffs on neighbours Canada and Mexico unless they cracked down on illegal migrants crossing the US border and the flow of deadly fentanyl.
Trump has separately threatened China -- a member of the BRICS bloc -- with an additional 10 per cent levy on goods as soon as February 1 due to a trade imbalance and its alleged role in the US fentanyl supply.
© Agence France-Presse
