Trump Announces 30% Tariffs on EU Imports Starting August 1

Donald Trump has announced that he will impose a 30% tariff on imports from the European Union starting on August 1. The tariffs are expected to make a wide range of European products — such as French cheese, Italian leather goods, German electronics, and Spanish pharmaceuticals — more expensive for American consumers.

In addition to the EU, Trump also declared a 30% tariff on goods from Mexico, according to statements posted on his Truth Social account.

In separate letters addressed to the EU and Mexico, Trump argued that the US trade deficit constitutes a national security risk. In his letter to the European Union, he stated:

“We have had years to discuss our trading relationship with The European Union, and we have concluded we must move away from these long-term, large, and persistent trade deficits, engendered by your tariff, and non-tariff, policies, and trade barriers.

Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal.”

In his letter to Mexico, Trump claimed the country had not done enough to prevent the US from becoming a “narco-trafficking playground.”

Reacting to Trump’s announcement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU could take “proportionate countermeasures” if the US goes ahead with the tariffs. She stressed that the bloc remains open to working toward an agreement before the August 1 deadline.

“Few economies in the world match the European Union's level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices,” von der Leyen said, adding that the EU would take “all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests.”

She also warned that such tariffs would disrupt vital transatlantic supply chains.

Other European leaders voiced their concerns as well. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Trump’s announcement was “very concerning and not the way forward.” He pledged full support for the European Commission and emphasized the need for the EU to stay united in seeking a mutually beneficial outcome with the US.

On the Mexican side, the economy ministry announced that a bilateral working group is negotiating to find an alternative to the proposed 30% tariffs before they take effect. The ministry noted that Mexico was formally informed of the tariffs and is actively engaged in discussions.

These moves are part of Trump’s broader trade agenda, which he escalated during his so-called “liberation day” in April when he imposed what he called “reciprocal tariffs” on various US trading partners to address trade imbalances.

Earlier this year, the US imposed a 20% tariff on EU imports in April, but that was later suspended, and the EU has since been paying a 10% baseline tariff. In May, Trump threatened to raise tariffs on EU goods to 50% when trade talks stalled but ultimately delayed the move to allow negotiations to continue.

Earlier this week, the European Commission reiterated its hope of reaching a trade agreement with the US but said it was also prepared to retaliate with tariffs on a wide range of American products — including beef, auto parts, beer, and Boeing airplanes — if no deal is reached.