Trump issues threat to impose 50 percent tariff on EU

(MENAFN)
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a 50% tariff on all goods imported from the European Union, citing what he described as an unfair trade imbalance. According to Trump, the U.S. runs an annual trade deficit of roughly $240 billion with the EU — a figure confirmed by the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, although Trump incorrectly cited it as $250 million in his social media post.

In a statement on Truth Social, Trump accused the EU of being "very difficult to deal with" and claimed that the bloc was originally created to exploit U.S. trade. He criticized European taxes, regulations, and legal actions against American firms, calling them detrimental to the U.S. economy.

Trump proposed the new tariff take effect on June 1, 2025, and emphasized that products made within the United States would be exempt. He argued the move was necessary as negotiations with the EU had made little progress.

Earlier in April, Trump had already introduced a 20% tariff on EU goods and a 25% duty on cars and metals, although he later paused the broader tariff for 90 days, keeping a 10% baseline rate.

Trump has ramped up his protectionist trade agenda since returning to office in January, claiming other nations had long taken advantage of the U.S. He recently described the EU as “in many ways nastier than China” in trade dealings, alleging a vast imbalance — including car and agricultural exports — that favors Europe.

On April 2, dubbed “Liberation Day,” Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all imports and added targeted surcharges for countries like China, Mexico, and Canada. Although he initially said the U.S. would negotiate individual agreements with trading partners, he later shifted stance, stating Washington would dictate terms unilaterally.

So far, the White House has not revealed the full details or rates of the planned agreements.

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