India’s Jaishankar Voices Strong Stand on Fair Trade at BRICS Summit
- MGMMTeam
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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India at the BRICS virtual summit on September 8, stepping in for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The meeting came at a critical moment when global trade dynamics are under strain due to the steep tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which have directly impacted both India and Brazil with duties as high as 50 percent. The summit was convened under Brazil’s chairmanship, with Lula aiming to rally the bloc around common positions on trade and economic stability.
Trump’s Tariffs Dominate the Agenda
The virtual gathering highlighted how Trump’s protectionist tariff measures are reshaping global trade equations. Both India and Brazil have been disproportionately targeted, prompting Lula to brand the tariffs as “tariff blackmail”. He urged BRICS members to resist such coercive trade practices through deeper financial cooperation and integration. The tariffs not only hurt export competitiveness but also risk destabilizing emerging economies that rely on predictable global supply chains.
Chinese President Xi Jinping reinforced this sentiment, cautioning that trade wars and unilateral sanctions undermine the very foundation of global commerce. His remarks echoed the bloc’s wider pushback against protectionism and underscored the need for a coordinated BRICS response to Western economic leverage.
India’s Call for Fair, Transparent Practices
In his address, Jaishankar emphasized the necessity of fair, transparent, and predictable economic practices to restore confidence in the global trading system. He pointed out that recent disruptions—from the pandemic to geopolitical conflicts—had exposed the fragility of current structures. To counter these vulnerabilities, he advocated for building resilient and localized supply chains that can withstand future shocks.
Jaishankar also stressed that trade should not be complicated by unrelated political issues, warning that the linkage of trade measures to non-trade matters would further erode trust. His words carried a veiled message to the United States, reflecting India’s growing discomfort with Washington’s unilateral trade actions while maintaining a careful diplomatic balance.
An Expanding BRICS Bloc
This year’s summit was notable not only for its agenda but also for the expanded membership of BRICS. New participants—including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia—added weight to the group’s claim of representing the broader Global South. For India, this expansion presents both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, it strengthens the bloc’s global footprint; on the other, it requires careful navigation of diverse political and economic priorities.
India’s choice to be represented by Jaishankar instead of Prime Minister Modi underscored a calibrated diplomatic strategy. It allowed New Delhi to remain an active participant in shaping BRICS’ direction while minimizing any unnecessary escalation with Washington, especially at a time when India-U.S. relations are under pressure due to the ongoing tariff disputes.
The Road Ahead: India’s 2026 Chairmanship
Looking forward, India is set to assume the BRICS chairmanship in 2026, positioning it to steer discussions on economic reform, digital transformation, and sustainable development. Jaishankar’s remarks at this summit may well serve as a preview of India’s priorities when it takes the helm.
His focus on fair practices, transparent governance, and resilient supply chains reflects not just India’s national interest but also a broader vision for a stable global economy. As the world grapples with protectionist policies and shifting alliances, India’s role within BRICS is likely to become more pivotal in shaping a multipolar order.
The MGMM Outlook
At the recent BRICS virtual summit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly voiced India’s stance on fair trade, stepping in for Prime Minister Modi at a crucial time. With protectionist tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump dominating the agenda, Jaishankar emphasized the urgent need for transparent and predictable global trade practices. His remarks highlighted how unfair duties—particularly against India and Brazil—destabilize emerging economies and distort global supply chains. By calling for resilient, localized supply chains and cautioning against mixing politics with trade, India positioned itself as a leading advocate for reform in a fragile economic order.
The summit also marked a turning point with BRICS’ expanded membership, adding countries from the Global South and broadening its collective voice. India’s careful diplomatic move of sending Jaishankar instead of Prime Minister Modi reflects New Delhi’s balancing act—asserting its concerns over U.S. trade actions without openly escalating tensions. With India set to assume the BRICS chairmanship in 2026, Jaishankar’s words can be seen as a preview of India’s priorities: driving fairer practices, pushing for stronger supply chain resilience, and shaping a multipolar order where emerging economies have a greater say in global trade.
(Sources: Moneycontrol, India Today, Hindustan Times)
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