Posted on 07/12/2025 11:30:12 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
President Donald Trump has announced that the European Union and Mexico will face a 30% tariff on imports to the US from 1 August.
He warned he would impose higher import taxes if either of the US trading partners decided to retaliate.
The 27-member EU - America's biggest trading partner - said earlier this week it hoped to agree a deal with Washington before 1 August.
Trump has this week also said the US will impose new tariffs on goods from Japan, South Korea, Canada and Brazil, also starting from 1 August. Similar letters were sent this week to a number of smaller US trade partners.
In the letter sent on Friday to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump wrote: "We have had years to discuss our trading relationship with the European Union, and have concluded that 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," the letter added.
The EU has been a frequent target of Trump's criticism. On 2 April, he proposed a 20% tariff for goods from the bloc, as well as dozens of other trade partners. He then threatened to raise the EU import taxes to 50% as trade talks stalled.
Washington and Brussels had hoped to reach an agreement before a deadline of 9 July, but there have been no announcements on progress.
In 2024, the US trade deficit with the bloc was $235.6bn (€202bn; £174bn), according to the office of the US trade representative.
Von der Leyen said the EU remained ready "to continue working towards an agreement by Aug 1".
"Few economies in the world match the European Union's level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices," her statement added.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Trump ought to put a 50% tariff on fund remittances to Mexico as well as the 30% tariff on Mexican goods entering the USA.
He just said 30%. Did you read it?
Winning!
50% tariff on fund remittances to Mexico...’BOUT TIME!!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.