The US president vowed higher tariffs on BRICS nations that align with the bloc's plans to challenge US hegemony. Despite the China-backed initiative making limited progress, dozens of nations are still eager to join.

The group of emerging economies—including Brazil, Russia, India and China—has long sought to present itself as a multilateral counterweight to a U.S.-dominated world order.

By Manuela Andreoni and Lisandra Paraguassu RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) -Developing nations participating in the BRICS summit on Monday brushed away an accusation from U.S. President Donald Trump that the bloc is "anti-American,