By Abiola Olawale
Nigeria could be caught in the crossfire of an additional 10% tariff threat following United States President Donald Trump’s vow to sanction any country that aligns with what he calls the “anti-American policies” of the BRICS bloc.
This development places Nigeria, a newly minted BRICS partner country, in a precarious economic position.
Trump, who took to his Truth Social account, blasted BRICS leaders for condemning his trade policies.
Trump wrote: “Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy.”
Recall that BRICS leaders had denounced Trump’s trade strategy, which includes a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, 25% on Canada and Mexico, and up to 70% on nations like China and Japan, effective August 1 after a 90-day negotiation pause ended July 9.
Without naming Trump explicitly, the leaders criticized unilateral measures that “distort trade” and harm emerging economies.
The bloc also warned that the ‘U.S. tariffs’ set to take effect soon could disrupt global supply chains and violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
Recall also that Nigeria has officially joined the BRICS bloc as a partner country in January 2025, following a decision at the 16th BRICS Summit in October 2024.
This status upgrade from its previous guest role allows Nigeria to participate in BRICS summits, meetings, and initiatives, contributing to discussions and official documents.
