<h1>BRICS urged to defend multilateral trade, push UN reforms, and boost cooperation on trade, tech, peacebuilding, and development</h1> A senior government minister urged BRICS to defend the multilateral trading system in response to rising protectionism, tariff volatility and non-tariff barriers that affect trade flows, noting recent high tariffs imposed by another state on its exports. The minister called for collective advocacy for comprehensive reform of UN principal organs, including the Security Council, and for BRICS collaboration on peacebuilding, diplomacy, technology and sustainable development. Bilateral and regional meetings highlighted expanding cooperation in trade, agriculture, health, digital technologies, critical minerals, energy and capacity building, and emphasized reforming multilateral institutions to better reflect Global South interests.