Tinubu Arrives In Brazil As BRICS Nations To Denounce Trump Tariffs

                                  

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, ahead of the 17th Summit of BRICS countries.

            Tinubu Arrives In Brazil As BRICS Nations To Denounce Trump Tariffs

 The president’s aircraft touched down at the Galeão Air Force Base at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, where he was received by the commander of the base, Brazil’s deputy minister for Africa and the Middle East, Ambassador Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, and the deputy minister for trade promotion, science, technology, innovation, and culture.

Due to Nigeria's status as a "partner country," which is a membership category below full status, President Tinubu is attending the summit at the invitation of Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.  The Partner status is an upgrade from its previous guest status, which the country had enjoyed over the years.

    

  

    Nigeria was formally admitted as the ninth BRICS partner country in January 2025, a status introduced at the 16th BRICS Summit in October 2024.

   Nigeria can contribute to discussions and official documents at BRICS summits, meetings, and initiatives as a partner nation.

    BRICS Nations To Denounce Trump Tariffs

 BRICS leaders meeting from Sunday are expected to decry Donald Trump’s hardline trade policies, but are struggling to bridge divides over crises roiling the Middle East.

 According to people who are familiar with the summit negotiations, emerging nations, which account for about half of the world's population and 40% of the world's economic output, are expected to unite over what they consider to be unfair US import tariffs. Since coming to office in January, Trump has threatened allies and rivals alike with a slew of punitive tariffs.

 His latest salvo comes in the form of letters due to be sent starting Friday, informing trading partners of new tariff rates expected next week on July 9.

 Diplomats from 11 emerging nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have been busy drafting a statement condemning the economic uncertainty.

 Any final summit declaration is not expected to mention the United States or its president by name.  But it is expected to be a clear political shot directed at Washington.

 “We’re anticipating a summit with a cautious tone: it will be difficult to mention the United States by name in the final declaration,” Marta Fernandez, director of the BRICS Policy Center at Rio’s Pontifical Catholic University, said.