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US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened BRICS countries with 100% tariffs if they try to replace the American dollar in international trade.
In an X post on Saturday, Trump warned he’ll shut the door on trade BRICS committed countries in a long message which has ignited a Twitter firestorm from throngs of South African and key leaders, among them former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and Clayson Monyela, acting chief of State Protocol.
“The idea that the BRICS countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump wrote, adding: “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.”
His threat is directed at a bloc of nine countries in the so-called BRICS alliance, which consists of India, China, Brazil, Russia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, including South Africa. .
“They can go find another “sucker!” There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the US Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America,” the post further read.
Given the murky SA-US trade relations, due in part to SA’s position on the wars in Ukraine and in Gaza — notwithstanding President Ramaphosa’s latest comments at the ANC Siyanqoba rally in Limpopo that he’s looking to engage Trump on these concerns in the near future — it remains to be seen how South Africa, now leading the G20 (a forum bringing together countries with more than 75% control of the world GDP) will juggle its roles in BRICS and AGOA.
What’s South Africans Say: reactions from X social media platform
