BRICS countries are pushing for greater use of national currencies in trade and investment and interoperability of cross-border payment systems to cut transaction costs, even as the grouping stepped up criticism of unilateral tariffs and protectionist measures. “There is no proposal in the BRICS for a BRICS currency. The focus is how we can do more intra-BRICS trade and how we can engage with the global business community more actively and reduce transaction costs through trade in national currencies,” Secretary (Economic Relations) and India’s BRICS Sherpa Sudhakar Delela said.