Leaders of the 11-member BRICS bloc railed against economic protectionism and "tariff blackmail" during a virtual meeting Monday held amid a damaging trade war with US President Donald Trump.

The group of emerging economies met via videoconference at the initiative of Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose office said it was necessary to address the "intensification of unilateral measures" in the world.

The BRICS represents nearly 40 percent of global GDP and almost half of the world's population.

Several of its members are among those most affected by what Lula referred to Monday as "tariff blackmail" and "unjustified and illegal" trade practices.

Addressing his colleagues, Chinese President Xi Jinping called Monday for the upholding of "the multilateral trading system wi

See Full Page