Trump announces 30% tariffs on the European Union starting August 1

By The New Obs with AFP

Published on July 12, 2025 at 3:10 p.m. , updated July 12, 2025 at 5:01 p.m.

Reading time: 2 min.

Google News Subscribe

US President Donald Trump announced this Saturday, July 12, the imposition of 30% customs duties on Mexico and the European Union, further increasing trade tensions .

Also read

Trade War Interview : "Trump is creating chaos to change the world order"

These tariffs will take effect on August 1, Donald Trump indicated in separate letters published on his Truth Social platform. He justified these decisions by citing Mexico's role in trafficking drugs to the United States and a trade imbalance with the EU.

In early April, the American head of state threatened the EU with imposing 20% tariffs on European products exported to the United States. At the end of May, frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations with the European bloc, he raised this rate to 50%, with an announced effective date of June 1st, ultimately postponed to August 1st.

Donald Trump warned that in the event of retaliatory measures from the EU and the imposition of a possible surcharge on American goods, this percentage would be added to the 30% announced on Saturday for European products entering the United States.

EU ready to 'continue work towards an agreement'

The EU responded by criticizing the decision, but said it remained ready to continue working on an agreement . According to diplomatic sources, the talks so far have been based on US tariffs of 10 percent, with several exceptions.

“Imposing 30% tariffs on EU exports would disrupt vital transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic,” Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. “We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by 1 August. At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if necessary,” she added.

Also read

The Commission, however, indicated that no new meeting was planned between American and European negotiators for the time being. "If you are ready to open your closed market to the United States, to eliminate your customs duties, your protectionist measures and the barriers to trade, we will consider, if necessary, adjustments" to the customs duties promised on Saturday, the American president wrote to the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

In Mexico's case, this is also an increase from the 25% previously chosen. The announcement of this new tax was communicated to Mexico during a negotiation held in the United States on Friday between officials from both countries. "We mentioned at the table that this was unfair treatment and that we did not agree," the secretariats of Economy and Foreign Affairs said in a joint statement.

Donald Trump did not specify whether these tariffs would only apply to products outside the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), as was the case for the 25%. These non-USMCA goods represent only a minority of trade between the two countries. When contacted by AFP, the White House did not immediately respond.

Since Monday, the Trump administration has specified to around twenty trading partners, mainly in Asia, the rates that will now be applied, from 20% to 40% with the exception of Brazil (50%).

Also read

Decryption Trade War: French Cheese Under High Tension

Some sixty nations are expected, barring a trade agreement, to be subject to surcharges of more than 10%, a floor level that will be applied to others, with Canada and Mexico being special cases.

On Thursday, Donald Trump informed Canadian authorities that customs duties of 35% would come into effect on August 1.

Le Nouvel Observateur

Similar News

All News

Nice Matin

Trump's tariffs: Emmanuel Macron expresses his "strong disapproval" and calls on the EU to defend its interests

Var-Matin

Trump's tariffs: Emmanuel Macron expresses his "strong disapproval" and calls on the EU to defend its interests

20 Minutes

xAI apologizes for Grok's extremist posts

20 Minutes

Pharmaceuticals, automotive: the most threatened European sectors

Courrier International

Trump announces 30% tariffs on the European Union and Mexico