Foreign ministers from the BRICS group of developing nations failed to reach a joint communique on Tuesday after meeting in Rio de Janeiro, but chair Brazil issued a statement speaking out against trade protectionism.

In the statement, Brazil said the group's foreign ministers expressed "serious concern at the prospect of a fragmented global economy and the weakening of multilateralism". The United States has implemented a new tariffs-focused trade policy under President Donald Trump,

Opposition from some African nations to United Nations Security Council reform blocked a joint declaration at a Brics foreign ministers' meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, exposing divisions as the bloc expands and undermining efforts by Brazil to project unity.