BRICS Leaders Denounce Protectionism and Tariff ‘Blackmail’

Leaders from the 11-member BRICS bloc strongly criticized economic protectionism and ‘tariff blackmail’ during a virtual meeting on Monday. The meeting, held in the midst of an ongoing trade war with US President Donald Trump, saw leaders calling for a rejection of such practices to promote free and fair trade. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of building an open global economy, sharing opportunities, and achieving mutually beneficial results through fairness. The leaders highlighted the damaging impact of protectionism and tariffs on global trade and emphasized the need for cooperation and collaboration amongst countries to overcome such challenges. The BRICS nations, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, reaffirmed their commitment to upholding multilateralism and opposing unilateral actions that disrupt international trade.