Xi Jinping’s Virtual Summit Addresses Trade Tensions

During a virtual summit on Monday, Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, addressed members of a Security and Trade Bloc aimed at countering U.S. influence. While he didn’t specifically name President Donald Trump or the United States, he criticized what he called a “trade war and tariff war,” as stated by the official Chinese government translation of his remarks. This summit took place two months after the annual BRICS leaders’ meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Xi was absent. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, currently leading the group, had provided a rather urgent address, asking members to assist Brazil amid rising tensions with Washington. Notably, Lula declined to reach out to Trump for negotiations on trade but emphasized his intent to call Xi instead.

The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has also expanded to include other nations like Iran, Egypt, and Indonesia. The absence of Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Rio summit meant that the discussions there didn’t directly confront the U.S. Instead, they produced a vague joint statement focused on the themes of climate change and multilateralism.

In his comments on Monday, Xi suggested that BRICS countries should unite against U.S. actions on the global stage, referring to the U.S. vaguely as “some countries.” He noted, “Hegemony, one-sided, protectionism is increasingly rampaging,” and warned that the actions of certain nations were damaging the global economy and international trade rules.

“At this important time, BRICS countries should…defend multilateralism and multilateral trading systems,” he declared, underscoring the need for cooperation among BRICS nations. He introduced the idea of global communities working towards a shared future, which he described as central to his ideological perspective.

Xi labeled globalization as an “attractive historical trend,” cautioning that “no country can afford to retreat into voluntary isolation.” He advocated for economic globalization that benefits all and emphasized development as a key aspect of the international agenda.

Additionally, his comments included a promotion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to involve poorer countries in development. During a regular briefing, China’s Foreign Ministry echoed Xi’s points without directly targeting the U.S., lamenting what it referred to as “one-sided rises and rising protectionism.” They affirmed that BRICS countries would collectively protect multilateralism and strive for equity and common development.

While Xi didn’t explicitly declare himself the leader of BRICS again, commentators close to the Chinese government suggested that he maintains a strong influence over the cooperation within BRICS. They noted that China plays a vital role in shaping the direction of BRICS by offering guidance and support for development among its members.

The last in-person BRICS summit lacked strong representation from China, and no direct critiques of the U.S. were found in a lengthy joint declaration, which skirted around issues emerging from American policies, including unilateral tariffs. Lula, deeply affected by Trump’s tariff strategies, used the summit to voice concerns about the collapsing international order established in 1945, claiming that principles of free trade are being eroded fast. He described tariffs as a tool of market conquest interfering with national issues.

Lula’s references to “secondary sanctions” seemed to hint at tensions with India, as the U.S. has threatened sanctions against India for purchasing oil from Russia. Throughout the summit, Lula expressed a mix of frustration and caution, mentioning the need for significant changes in how global trade rules are applied.