President-elect Donald Trump has recently unveiled a decisive plan to impose 100% tariffs on BRICS nations. This bold and necessary step aims to protect America’s economic sovereignty, especially in the face of these nations’ contemplation of a rival currency to the U.S. dollar. With the dollar as the cornerstone of global trade, any erosion of its dominance by adversaries would weaken our nation’s strategic position and threaten the security of America’s health care network.
The BRICS nations aim to undermine a key pillar of U.S. power by diminishing the dollar’s role as the world’s reserve currency. Such a shift could destabilize global markets, increase the U.S.’s borrowing costs, and erode the country’s ability to impose effective sanctions or finance strategic initiatives.
This coordinated effort by economic competitors leveraging unfair competitive practices and nations undermining US interests underscores the urgency of protecting the dollar’s status. Policies like President-elect Trump’s 100% tariffs on BRICS nations are not just about trade.
They are a necessary defense of America’s financial sovereignty and a clear signal that any attempt to weaken the dollar’s dominance will be met with decisive action.
Trump’s policy sends a clear message: the United States will not tolerate bad actions by bad actors seeking to undermine the global financial order. This is true not only for currency matters but also for the nuts and bolts of international trade.
China’s recent behavior highlights the urgency of these measures. The New York Times recently outlined how China targets U.S. companies like Skydio with supply chain disruptions. Beijing has shown its willingness to engage in economic manipulation by exploiting loopholes in trade rules.
One particularly damaging tactic in global supply chain manipulation by actors like China is “transshipment,” where goods are rerouted through third-party nations to mask their origin and evade tariffs. This deceptive practice enables bad actors to avoid consequences and floods the U.S. market with cheap imports, undercutting American industries.
U.S. Secretary of State-designate Senator Marco Rubio recently proposed legislation to bar Chinese manufacturers from evading tariffs by setting up production facilities in other countries like Mexico, Vietnam, or Malaysia. Some nations sought as partners by the Chinese lack democracy, the rule of law, and trade agreements with the USA. Rubio’s proposal responds to a growing trend where Chinese companies shift production to nations with lower tariff barriers, effectively bypassing trade penalties meant to level the playing field.
AMMA continues educating our policymakers and warns that China’s use of transshipments and other harmful trade practices seriously threaten U.S. industries. These tactics disproportionately harm critical sectors like U.S.-made PPE and medical supplies, where unfair practices persist despite legislative efforts and repeated warnings. Transshipment, violations of the de minimis rule, and similar actions undermine efforts to rebuild domestic manufacturing, endangering jobs and leaving the U.S. unprepared for future healthcare and public safety challenges.
There is a clear path forward to protect US manufacturing, especially in PPE and medical supplies. Trump’s tariff strategy, initiatives like Rubio’s proposed legislation, and the Biden Administration’s expansion of Section 301 tariffs are critical steps toward economic resilience. In addition, vigorous enforcement against anti-competitive and deceptive trade practices is necessary to protect strategic industries.
When we reduce reliance on adversarial nations, the United States can strengthen critical industries, safeguard public health and safety, and reinforce its position as a global leader. The stakes are too high to allow bad actors to continue their harmful practices unchecked. By holding them accountable and prioritizing domestic manufacturing, America can secure its economic future and readiness to meet any challenge.
Eric Axel
Eric Axel is the Executive Director of the AMMA.
