Monday 28/April/2025 – 09:32 PM
Foreign ministers of the Brex Group of Developing States met today, Monday, to discuss adopting a common means of defending the global trade system, and coordinating their response to the new customs duties imposed by US President Donald Trump.
It is expected that the meeting in Rio de Janeiro will be issued by a joint statement criticizing the mono -side measures regarding the trade of the group formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and has recently expanded to include 6 other countries.
Brazilian Ambassador Mauricio Lerio said: The ministers are negotiating a declaration to reaffirm centralization … Multilateral commercial negotiations as the main axis of work in trade.
He added: They will reaffirm their criticism of unilateral measures, whatever their source, which is an old position of BRICS.
The expanded BRICS group that added Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran last year face major challenges due to American trade measures.
China, which has been imposed by customs duties by 145 percent on its exports to the United States, is pressing the drafting of the statement in the most tone, but a source familiar with the negotiations said that the final text will be criticism, not clash.
Trump’s criticism of the Brex
The BRICS as a whole is criticized by Trump, which threatened to impose other customs duties by 100 percent if the bloc goes to the adoption of a unified currency that replaces the dollar in trade relations.
It is noteworthy that Brazil has already abandoned a unified currency during its presidency of the group, but its agenda may pave the way to reduce dependence on the dollar in global trade.
With the focus on the United Nations Climate Summit hosted by Brazil in November, the Brix ministers will also discuss a joint position on financing for climate change, which is one of the main priorities of Brazil in its presidency.
Pressure increases on major developing countries, including China, from rich countries to contribute to financing adaptation initiatives and mitigating the effects of climate change in the poorest countries.
Lerio said: What is not included in the agenda is to review the countries that must pay the costs of transformation in the energy and countries that ultimately can, voluntarily, financing it, and this distinction is very important.
He added: The financial commitment to funding climate change and transformation in the energy field in developing countries falls on the rich countries.
