Newly elected US president Donald Trump has threatened BRICS countries with 100% tariffs if they continue pursuing the idea of creating a new currency.
Trump said he wants Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to commit to not creating a new currency.
"The idea that the BRICS countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by, and watch is over. We require a commitment from these 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, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. economy," Trump wrote on his social media page, X.
BRICS was formed in 2009 by four countries and South Africa joined in 2010. During this year's summit held in Kazan, Russia, President Vladimir Putin said five new members—Egypt, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia have also joined the bloc —bringing the total number of countries in the alliance to ten.
Reacting to Trump's message, former public protector advocate Thuli Madonsela replied on Trumps message and said no country has a right to assert supremacy over others and order them to submit to its domination.
"To African leaders, please consider President-Elect Trump’s threat as a cue to diversify your economies especially trade arrangements," she wrote.
However, some social media users agreed with Trump's statement.
@Nancy_2011·2h "...US is not abusing its position; it’s protecting itself from abuse. Unseat the dollar and pay full tariff sounds like fair play."
@jarryd_za "He who has the bigger stick and bigger economy makes the rules...that's how it's always been, and nothing will change that."
@iRieRastaZa·2h "BRICS countries cannot have their bread buttered on both sides."
@WendyHousesHub·2h "I like the idea of standing up to bullies. The question is, do we have a plan or agenda to stand up or is just rhetoric. Russia had well-orchestrated plan for years to build reserves to cushion from shocks."
@Gerrie93731712 "Trump is running a business, he is the CEO and the business's name is USA. Cry-babies will cry, but that's the way business worked historical, currently and will in the future. Only problem is those on the losing end don't like rules and procedures."
However, Madonsela said she rejects responses that say whoever has greater economic means must call the shots and those in a weaker economic position should comply.
"Such supremacist paradigms enable pathologies like Gender Based Violence (GBV) to prevail with impunity. Establishing a fairer world requires the challenging of bullies and related supremacists," she said.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
IOL News
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