India, Feb. 24 -- Donald Trump's return to the White House has reignited fears of a tariff war, with major implications for BRICS nations. His protectionist stance-warning that countries seeking to challenge the dominance of the US dollar could face tariffs as high as 100 per cent-may either push the bloc closer together or expose its internal divides. So, with BRICS expanding to include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and the UAE, its ambitions of de-dollarisation and reshaping global trade are being tested.

To assess the seriousness of Trump's tariff threats, the feasibility of a BRICS currency, and whether internal rivalries could limit the alliance's ambitions, Hindustan Times spoke with Lord Jim O'Neill-the British e...