---
title: "BRICS ministers fail to reach joint statement, Brazil warns against protectionism"
description: "RIO DE JANEIRO, April 29 (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from the BRICS group of developing nations failed to reach a joint communique on Tuesday after meeting in Rio de Janeiro, but chair Brazil issued a statement speaking out against trade protectionism."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-29-brics-ministers-fail-to-reach-joint-statement-brazil-warns-against-protectionism/"
published: "2025-04-29T21:22:14"
updated: "2025-04-29T21:22:16"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 195
---

# BRICS ministers fail to reach joint statement, Brazil warns against protectionism

> RIO DE JANEIRO, April 29 (Reuters) - Foreign ministers from the BRICS group of developing nations failed to reach a joint communique on Tuesday after meeting in Rio de Janeiro, but chair Brazil issued a statement speaking out against trade protectionism.

By Reuters · Published 29 April 2025, 23:22 SAST · Updated 29 April 2025, 23:22 SAST

## Key points
- In a diplomatic tête-à-tête, BRICS foreign ministers raised alarm bells over the looming specter of a fragmented global economy, all while sidestepping a direct mention of the U.S. and its tariffs, proving that sometimes it's not just what you say, but what you don't say that counts.
- BRICS foreign ministers express deep concerns over a fragmented global economy and diminishing multilateralism.
- New U.S. tariffs under Trump raise fears of a potential global economic slowdown, though the U.S. is not explicitly mentioned.
- The expanded BRICS group, including new members like Egypt and Iran, faces significant challenges due to U.S. trade actions.
- Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira confirms consensus on tariffs, aiming for a unified statement at the upcoming July summit in Rio.

## Content

By Lisandra Paraguassu

In the statement, Brazil said the group's foreign ministers expressed "serious concern at the prospect of a fragmented global economy and the weakening of multilateralism".

The United States has implemented a new tariffs-focused trade policy under President Donald Trump, raising concerns about a global economic slowdown, although the statement did not name the U.S.

The expanded BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as well as new joiners Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran, faces daunting challenges from U.S. trade actions.

"The ministers voiced serious concerns about the rise of unjustified unilateral protectionist measures inconsistent with WTO rules, including indiscriminate raising of reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff measures," the statement said.

Brazilian Foreign Relations Minister Mauro Vieira told journalists the BRICS ministers had reached a consensus on the tariffs issue, saying it could be seen in the statement issued by the South American country.

He added that the nations were working to have a final joint statement at their July summit, also in Rio de Janeiro.

(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Additional reporting and writing by Andre Romani; Editing by Gabriel Araujo and Nia Williams)