Lok Sabha Question No. 317 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Tariff Threat to BRICS
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Ramprit Mandal, Shri Dinesh Chandra Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO - 317

## ANSWERED ON 21.03.2025

TARIFF THREAT ON BRICS

*317. SHRI RAMPRIT MANDAL

## SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

- (a) the current status of BRICS;
- (b) whether it is true that BRICS has now started disintegrating post the 150 percent tariff threat by America;
- (c) the   total   number   of   countries   which   are   members   of   BRICS   at present; and
- (d) the opinions of the member countries of BRICS after the said threat by America alongwith the likely role of India in this matter?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

(DR. SUBRAMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

- (a) to (d):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT   REFERRED   TO   IN   REPLY   TO   PARTS   (A)   TO   (D)   IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 317 FOR REPLY ON 21.03.2025 REGARDING TARIFF THREAT ON BRICS ASKED BY SHRI RAMPRIT MANDAL AND SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV

BRICS, a platform founded in 2006, has been progressing steadily since its inception. It reflects the common concern of its members and seeks to make global debates and leadership more representative and inclusive.

While originally founded with four members (Brazil, Russia, India and China), it added South Africa in 2010. Thereafter, BRICS has expanded to comprise currently of 11 members and 9 partner countries. The expansion of membership and the interest displayed by many aspiring members is itself a statement of its status and importance.

The current members are: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Indonesia. The partner countries are:  Belarus, Bolivia,  Cuba,  Kazakhstan,  Malaysia,  Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

Issues   discussed   by   BRICS   include  strengthening   multilateralism, reforms   of   UN   Security   Council,   Bretton   Woods   institutions,   WTO,

counterterrorism, health, pandemic preparedness, finance and trade, climate change, improving the international monetary and financial system, biodiversity conservation, promotion and protection of human rights,   land   degradation,   desertification   and   drought,   global   water scarcity challenge, exercise of navigational rights and freedoms of vessels, non-proliferation and disarmament, outer space activities and prevention of an arms race in outer space (PAROS), practical counterterrorism cooperation, preventing and combating illicit financial flows, money-laundering   and   countering   the   financing   of   terrorism, combating illicit  drug  production,  trafficking   and   abuse   worldwide, countering transnational organized crime, international anti-corruption agenda, potential   of   ICTs   bridging   the   digital   divides,   spread   and proliferation   of   disinformation   &   misinformation,   use   of   blended finance, key role of the New Development Bank (NDB) in promoting infrastructure and sustainable development of its member countries, cross-border payment instruments, secure, resilient, stable, effective and   open   supply   chains,   key   role   of   data   for   development,   ecommerce, Special Economic Zones, digital   connectivity,   Artificial Intelligence, access to energy, unilateral, punitive and discriminatory protectionist measures, energy research cooperation, role of carbon

markets, climate change, practical collaboration in the field of geology and rational development of mineral resources, oceans for sustainable development   and   climate   stability,   Kimberley   Process,   transport infrastructure, role of World Health Organization, communicable and non-communicable diseases, field of nuclear medicine, remote sensing satellite   applications,   tourism,   competition   law   and   policy,   tax cooperation, cooperation in the sphere of standardization, statistical cooperation, Intellectual Property, cooperation in the field of disaster management, cooperation in labour market, public sector auditing, cooperation in the field of justice, Science, Technology Innovation (STI), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), peopleto-people exchanges,   enhancing   international cooperation   in education, role of culture in sustainable development, promotion of traditional and indigenous sports, youth exchanges, interparliamentary interaction, dialogue among political parties, promoting affordable housing and urban development and resilience, critical role of women in political, social and economic development.

From   time   to   time,   regional   political   issues   such   as peaceful settlement in Afghanistan, permanent ceasefire in Gaza, situation in Lebanon, humanitarian crisis   in   Sudan   and   Haiti,   situation   in   and

around   Ukraine,   territorial   integrity   of   Syria, have   also   been deliberated upon by BRICS members. Understandably, as nations at different levels of development and

income and bearing in mind their individual national interests, BRICS members have a range of positions on contemporary issues. Their meetings and discussions are aimed at finding common ground and working together to shape the global order. Their common thread is the commitment to multi-polarity.

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