Astha Pandey/VOIWORLD
The latest BRICS virtual summit ended with a clear message for the world. Global trade needs fair, inclusive practices and no more tariffs and unilateral measures or restrictions. Leaders from Brazil, China, India, South Africa, and others used the platform to criticize economic nationalism and push for cooperation over confrontation.
For India, the summit offered a platform to assert its independence in trade policy, especially as it faces pressure over Russian oil imports and U.S. tariffs on its goods. China, meanwhile, used the moment to strengthen its narrative as a defender of multilateralism amid growing global fragmentation. Brazil and South Africa emphasized the developmental and environmental needs of the Global South, aligning economic fairness with global justice.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered one of his sharpest interventions, what he called “tariff blackmail,” arguing that protectionist policies by rich nations unfairly squeeze developing economies. He urged BRICS countries to boost trade within the bloc and reduce dependence on Western markets.
Speaking for India, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said trade decisions must be “fair, transparent and beneficial to all.” He argued that economic measures should not be used as political weapons and called for shorter, resilient supply chains to protect against global shocks. Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that unilateralism and protectionism are destabilizing global trade. He described multilateralism as “the shared aspiration of the people” and an “irresistible trend,” calling for reforms in global governance and stronger cooperation among developing nations.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa pushed for what he called a “trade revolution” led by BRICS. He said the bloc should focus on investment in climate resilience, early warning systems, and inclusive development to support the Global South. The BRICS message goes beyond economics. By opposing tariffs and protectionism, the bloc is positioning itself as a counterweight to Western trade policies, which increasingly use sanctions
and duties as diplomatic tools.
Together, the leaders signaled that BRICS intends to play a larger role in rewriting trade norms
grounded in fairness, inclusivity, and the priorities of the Global South.
