Trump announces 25% tariffs on EU imports
US President Donald Trump has announced his administration’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on European Union (EU) products, including automobiles, claiming that the bloc was “formed to screw the US.”
Speaking at a White House Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump stated, “We have made a decision. We’ll be announcing it very soon, and it’ll be 25% generally speaking, and that’ll be on cars and all other things.”
The EU is the US’s third-largest trading partner, alongside China. Trump accused the bloc of unfair trade practices, saying, “They don’t accept our cars, they don’t accept, essentially, our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not. And we accept everything from them, and we have about a $300 billion deficit with the European Union.”
However, a Politico report previously stated that the actual trade deficit is overstated. According to EU data from 2023, the US goods trade deficit with the EU was €155.8 billion, but a €104 billion surplus in services brought the overall trade deficit to around €51.8 billion ($56 billion).
Trump also confirmed that he will proceed with 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada next week, citing border security concerns and the influx of fentanyl. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the tariffs, previously delayed for a month, will take effect on March 4, unless Mexico and Canada prove they have taken sufficient action on border control.
Lutnick also noted that additional tariff actions against other countries would be implemented on April 2.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on Mexico and Canada, including a 10% tariff increase on Canadian energy products. Although he initially delayed the tariffs for a month to allow negotiations, Trump has now reaffirmed that they “will go forward.”
