Trump announces 30% tariffs on the European Union and Mexico
On Saturday, July 12, U.S. President Donald Trump posted two letters on his social media platform announcing and justifying the increase in customs duties to 30% for products from the European Union and Mexico. Negotiations are still possible.
Since the beginning of the week, U.S. President Donald Trump has been sharing on his Truth Social platform the letters he's been sending to various world leaders regarding tariffs. On Thursday, he announced in a lengthy phone interview with NBC that the European Union would also soon receive a letter.
This has been the case since Saturday. Thus, " the European Union (EU) and Mexico are joining the growing list of countries whose products will be subject to customs surcharges starting August 1, " CNN reports . " In these two separate letters, Trump indicates that all imports will be taxed at a rate of 30% , with the exception of special tariffs on steel and aluminum, and automobiles (taxed at 25%).
Regarding the EU, he “ initially announced a 20% tax in early April, before lowering it to 10% during a break that was supposed to be an opportunity for negotiations. But furious at the lack of progress in the negotiations with the bloc of 27, he ended up brandishing the threat of a 50% tax on goods from the EU starting June 1 ,” Bloomberg recalls .
The US President justified his decision to impose a 30% tariff by citing the US's alleged trade deficit with the EU, which he considers a "major threat" to the US economy and national security.
In his letter to Ursula von der Leyen, excerpts of which were published by The Guardian, he wrote: “ We have had years to discuss our trade relationship with the European Union. And we have concluded that we must end these large and persistent trade deficits, generated by your tariff and non-tariff policies and your trade barriers .” He insisted: “ Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from being based on reciprocity .”
The President of the European Commission responded to Donald Trump in a statement. She set out her point of view, insisting that imposing 30% tariffs on European products “ would disrupt vital transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers, and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.” She said she was in favor of continuing negotiations by August 1 and “ will take all necessary measures to safeguard the EU's interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if necessary.”
“ In his letter to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump said the country had 'helped secure the border' against illegal immigration, but that it wasn't enough,” Bloomberg reports.
And he adds that if Mexico manages to "control the [drug] cartels and stop the flow of Fentanyl [to the United States]" , adjustments to these customs tariffs could be considered.
