WASHINGTON: Former US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from the European Union, accusing the bloc of being created to undermine American economic interests. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump criticized the trade imbalance between the US and the EU, asserting that the US receives little in return for its openness to European goods.
“It’ll be 25 percent, generally speaking,” Trump told reporters, mentioning that the tariff would apply to cars and other products. He further claimed that the EU “does not accept US cars and farm products” while benefiting from the US market.
Currently, the EU imposes a 10 percent tariff on US car imports, while the US charges a 2.5 percent tariff on European passenger vehicles and 25 percent on imported pickup trucks.
Trump also reiterated his view that the EU was established to harm the United States, saying, “Look, let’s be honest, the European Union was formed in order to screw the United States.”
The European Commission swiftly rejected Trump’s claims, vowing to retaliate against any unjustified tariffs. A spokesperson stated, “The EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade.”
European diplomats also criticized Trump’s remarks, with former French ambassador Gérard Araud commenting, “Trump hates the EU,” and former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt calling Trump’s view of the EU’s origins “seriously distorted.” Bildt explained that the EU was created to prevent war on the European continent.
This latest trade warning comes amid growing tensions in US-EU relations, particularly due to Trump’s “America First” policies and his stance on NATO and the war in Ukraine. Trump’s repeated criticisms of US military commitments and his favorable rhetoric towards Russian President Vladimir Putin have raised concerns in Europe about the future of NATO and US support for European security.
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In response, German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz warned that Europe must prepare for a future without US security guarantees, suggesting that NATO may not remain in its current form. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to downplay these concerns, urging European nations to increase their defense spending to strengthen the alliance.
As the situation develops, both sides face mounting pressure to resolve trade disputes and strengthen their transatlantic relations.
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