U.S. President Donald Trump has doubled down on his plan to impose a 10 per cent tariff on all BRICS nations — including India — and warned of a possible 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceutical imports, a move that could significantly impact India’s $9 billion drug exports to the U.S.

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump accused the BRICS alliance of trying to “degenerate the dollar” and said any country in the bloc would face a flat 10 per cent tariff. “Anybody that’s in BRICS is getting a 10 per cent charge,” he said. “If they’re a member, they’re going to have to pay.”

On pharmaceuticals, Trump hinted at tougher restrictions. “We’ll give them a year, year and a half to get their act together,” he said, suggesting a 200 per cent tariff could be implemented soon if pharmaceutical companies don’t comply with new U.S. trade expectations.

This came a day after Trump sent a letter to South Africa announcing a 30 per cent tariff but did not mention a BRICS-specific duty. However, he now says the broader BRICS tariff will be enforced “soon.”

India has opposed the creation of a BRICS currency to rival the dollar and has effectively stalled the proposal, citing concerns over economic stability and Chinese dominance. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar previously stated, “There’s no policy on our part to replace the dollar.”

Despite India’s opposition, Trump continues to frame BRICS as an anti-dollar coalition. “They want to destroy the dollar,” he claimed, vowing to block any such effort, calling it “like losing a war.”

Trump added that BRICS was “not a serious set-up,” though he said he would still act against its perceived economic threat.