(1)(a) What is the position of the National Treasury on the BRICS nations’ proposal to introduce a new currency for cross-border trade and (b) how will this proposal impact the Republic’s economic relations with other countries, particularly the United States (US); (2) given the potential impact of a new BRICS currency on the economic relations of the Republic with the US, what steps will the Government take to ensure that its participation in this initiative does not negatively affect its existing trade relationships with the US and the European Union countries?