India, July 7 -- The Brics leaders' declaration at the summit in Rio de Janeiro has highlighted risks posed to global trade by indiscriminate hikes in tariffs. It has also called for urgent reforms to institutions of global governance such as the UN Security Council and the World Bank, reflecting the most pressing concerns of nations in the Global South. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Global South had become a "victim of double standards" because of the failure to revamp these institutions and to address the concerns of developing countries related to climate transition and access to technology.

While the leaders' declaration did not name any particular country, it was obvious the document was referring to the whimsical trade poli...