The EU refuses to accept Trump's blackmail over 15% tariffs.

In recent days, the trade dispute between the European Union and the United States has escalated, with the implementation of 15% tariffs reshaping the balance of power between the two sides of the Atlantic.

While the White House touts the measure's economic benefits, Brussels is trying to stay on course amid ongoing negotiations, threats of new retaliation, and alarmed markets.

The real start date of the duties

August 7th was the day the15% tariffs became a reality, but their implementation is still unclear. Initially, Brussels thought the measure would come into effect on August 8th , until a late-night post from Trump clarified the American decision.

The new tariffs are not the same for everyone: they range from 50% imposed on Brazil to 10% reserved for the United Kingdom, with the EU in the middle at 15%.

Many points remain to be defined, especially regarding possible exemptions . In the meantime, the countermeasures suspended on August 5 remain ready to be reactivated if necessary.

EU stands firm on tariffs: "They also apply to semiconductors."

Rather than an agreement on tariffs, it was a genuine imposition, the result of months and then weeks of constant meetings peppered with back-and-forth on social media. Trade tensions between the European Union and the United States remain high, despite the agreement on a 15% tariff rate.

But now is not the time to relax. The latest threat from the White House concerns tariffs of up to 100% on semiconductors , a prospect that has greatly irritated Ursula von der Leyen's team.

However, the EU executive clarified: "The 15% agreement also applies to medicines and chips for us."

Trump on new tariffs: "Billions to the US"

Across the Atlantic, President Donald Trump greeted the entry into force of the new tariffs with triumphal tones , claiming that they will lead to

billions of dollars, mostly from countries that have taken advantage of the United States for many years, laughing at it in every way, will begin to flow into the US.

The Commission, however, is aware of the need to clarify every aspect: "We have been very clear about the commitments made and those not made," Olof Gill emphasized, recalling that the data on energy supplies and European investments in America are estimates of companies' intentions and not contractual obligations.

Who are affected by gold tariffs?

In addition to tariffs on industrial products, Washington has also decided to target the precious metals sector, imposing a tax on one-kilogram gold bars . This is the most common format traded on Comex, the world's leading gold futures exchange, and it accounts for the bulk of Swiss exports to the United States.

As the Financial Times reports, the measure has a direct impact on Switzerland, a global leader in gold refining, already hit by a 39% tariff previously introduced by the Trump administration.

Christoph Wild , president of the Swiss Association of Precious Metal Producers and Traders, explained that these new tariffs risk making it more difficult to meet American demand for refined gold.