The BRICS group of countries, a club of 11 emerging markets, called out protectionism and tariff volatility at a foreign ministers meeting on the fringes of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The statement comes as countries are navigating the upheaval to global trade following U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff polices this year -which have seen both higher tariffs and repeated changes to rates.
The BRICS meeting , which was hosted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, condemned Israel’s attack earlier this month on Qatar as well as expressed “grave concerns” for Palestine after “ persistent” Israeli attacks. It also condemned the April terror attacks in Pahalgam.
“As rising protectionism, tariff volatility and non-tariff barriers impact trade flows, BRICS must defend the multilateral trading system,” Mr Jaishankar said on social media site X on Friday.
The BRICS group, which has 11 members and was originally centred around Brazil, Russia, India and China, has been on the radar of Mr. Trump, who views it as anti-American and a threat to the U.S. dollar. Mr Trump has tariffed some of its other members at high rates such as China as well as Brazil, which currently faces 50% tariffs.
The BRICS statement notes “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules”. Countries warned that these could fragment global trade and marginalize the Global South. The statement does not name the U.S. or explicitly point to Mr Trump’s policies.
On Friday, BRICS countries also “rejected” climate-related unilateral tariffs such as Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs). This has been a concern in trade relationships for instance between India and the E.U., which is among the jurisdictions rolling out such a tax. The U.K., which recently signed a trade deal with India, also plans to institute a CBAM starting in 2027.
BRICS minister condemned Israel’s September 9 airstrike on Qatar, which , the said was a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and “ a grave breach of international law, including the UN Charter”.
On Iran, the joint statement condemned attacks “since June 13 2025” including on Iran’s “civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities” that are under the safeguard of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the multilateral nuclear watchdog. Nuclear safety must always be upheld, the countries said, voicing their support for diplomatic initiatives in the region. It does not mention Israel or the U.S. explicitly as having conducted the strikes on Iran.
On the Israel-Gaza conflict, the ministers said that Israel’s “persistent” attack on Gaza had caused “unprecedented suffering to the civilian population of the territory, ravaged by deaths, destruction, and famine.” Over 65,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the latest phase of the conflict began in October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel killing approximately 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. Over 80 people were reportedly killed since Wednesday as Israel attacked Gaza City.
The countries called for an immediate ceasefire in the region and they called on Israel to stop its attacks and to withdraw troops. They also condemned the displacement of the Palestinian people and reiterated their support for a two-state solution , recognizing a Palestine which contains the Gaza Strip and West Bank, with its capital in East Jerusalem. BRICS countries also underscored their support for UNRWA, the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees. Israel has accused staffers of the organization of being Hamas operatives, a claim denied by UN officials.
No mention of Hamas
The statement called for the release of the remaining October 7 hostages. There was, however, no mention of Hamas , which is holding the hostages.
While the concept of countries being sovereign finds mention in a paragraph where the BRICS group reaffirms its commitment to the U.N. charter (paragraph 4), the term ‘territorial integrity’ is absent here. Respect for the concept has often been invoked, including by India, in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. This term instead is mentioned in the context of cooperation between BRCIS members and the context of the regional crises in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, where the countries say crises should be “exclusively resolved” through dialogue and based on “unconditional respect” for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
BRICS countries called for more equitable representation at the UN and reform of multilateral organizations, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Bretton Woods institutions. Significantly, BRICS-member China , has not supported India’s bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council.
India will chair BRICS in 2026 and its term would focus on food and energy security, climate change, development, digital technology and start ups, Mr Jaishankar said on Friday.
Published – September 27, 2025 10:26 pm IST
