Senior diplomats from the BRICS countries will meet in Brazil on Monday to discuss how to deal with the threat posed by US President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policy.
The meeting comes at a crucial moment for the global economy after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week cut its growth forecast due to the impact of US President Trump's sweeping new taxes.
Diplomats from trade blocs including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, including current president Brazil, will meet for two days in Rio de Janeiro in preparation for a leaders' summit in July.
Since its inception in 2009, the group has expanded significantly and now includes Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. It accounts for nearly half of the world's population and 39 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP).
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has imposed a general tariff of 10 percent on dozens of countries. However, China is facing customs duties of up to 145 percent on many products. Beijing has responded by imposing a 125 percent tariff on American goods.
Trump has threatened to impose 100 percent customs duties if the BRICS countries weaken the US dollar.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will attend the ministerial meeting, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Climate change is expected to be given high priority on the agenda ahead of the United Nations COP30 climate summit to be held in November in the Amazonian city of Belem by Brazil.
While Trump is trying to push Russia and Ukraine towards a peace agreement, this group is also likely to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine.
BRICS will be joined by former Soviet states as well as nine other 'partner' countries, including Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Nigeria.
