External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday underscored the need for an open and non-discriminatory global trade system while representing India at a virtual emergency BRICS meeting. The session, attended by leaders including China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and Brazil’s Lula da Silva, focused on addressing pressing international trade challenges.
Highlighting the growing fragility of the multilateral system, Dr. Jaishankar emphasized that sustainable trade requires constructive and cooperative approaches. Without naming any country directly, he cautioned against linking trade measures to non-trade matters and stressed that nations must enhance economic cooperation, strengthen supply chains, and promote regional self-sufficiency. He also highlighted the importance of democratizing manufacturing and production across geographies to buffer against global shocks.
Addressing the Global South, the minister noted setbacks in food, energy, and fertilizer security, warning that disruptions in shipping affect both trade and livelihoods. In Guwahati, local businesses echoed the need for predictable trade policies, noting that volatility in global supply chains impacts imports of essential goods and raw materials. Traders emphasized that an open trade environment could stabilize prices and support regional economic growth. The emergency BRICS session is widely seen as a response to escalating global tariff policies, aiming to foster resilient and cooperative trade frameworks.