As the United States doubles down on protectionism and tariffs under President Donald Trump’s America First agenda, the old global economic and multilateral governance order continues to splinter.
The BRICS bloc – at times shaped by Brazil’s assertive diplomacy – will likely seek to position itself as a counterweight to US and Western-led international structures. Particularly on trade, where Trump’s policies may unite the otherwise heterogeneous bloc. Following the implementation of a far reaching and comprehensive set of tariffs on global trading partners, Lula’s Brazil, an enthusiastic supporter of the BRICS model, may have a renewed opportunity for global activism and diplomacy.
This panel will explore how Brazil and BRICS members more widely are responding to the America First foreign and trade policy and whether their calls for a multipolar trading order can translate into genuine influence. Are initiatives on currency cooperation, development finance, and South–South trade a credible alternative, or does Washington’s economic weight still set the rules?
Key questions discussed on this panel include:
- How strong is the strength of unity among BRICS members?
- How have BRICS countries countered Trump’s trade and tariff agenda?
- Will Brazil seek to become a BRICS leader? How might its relationship with China help or hinder its ambitions?
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