Chinese President Xi Jinping has criticized the growing wave of trade wars and tariff battles, warning that such actions are destabilizing the global economy.

Speaking at the Virtual BRICS Summit on Monday, Xi said:

“Trade wars and tariff wars waged by some countries severely disrupt the world economy and undermine international trade rules.”

Although he did not name specific countries, his comments come amid rising tariff tensions triggered earlier this year by new U.S. trade measures under President Donald Trump.

Xi urged BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — to stand together in defending multilateral trade systems and pushing back against protectionism.

“Economic globalization is an irresistible trend of history,” he emphasized, adding that countries cannot prosper without an open and cooperative international environment.

With BRICS accounting for nearly half of the world’s population and one-fifth of global trade, Xi encouraged deeper cooperation to promote fairness, peace, and sustainable development.

He also reaffirmed China’s readiness to work with allies to advance the Global Development Initiative and boost Belt and Road partnerships.

While Xi’s speech was made public, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarks were not released. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva convened the extraordinary summit.