Trump Announces 50% Tariffs on EU Imports, Rules Out Trade Deal
President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to impose a 50% tariff on all European Union imports starting June 1, citing prolonged trade imbalances and stalled negotiations. Expressing clear frustration with the EU’s approach, Trump stated, “Our discussions with them are going nowhere,” and added that he is “not looking for a deal.”
Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 50% tariff on all European Union (EU) imports, set to take effect from June 1. “I’m not looking for a deal. I mean, we’ve set the deal. It’s at 50%,” he declared, adding that the only way for EU companies to avoid the tariffs would be to “build plants here.”
The announcement marks a sharp escalation in U.S.-EU trade tensions, which had shown signs of easing in recent months. Financial markets responded swiftly, with broad sell-offs across both European and U.S. indices.
Mr. Trump accused the EU of decades of unfair trade practices, stating, “They’ve never treated us properly,” while praising the United Kingdom for securing what he described as a “great deal” with the U.S.
Posting later on Truth Social, the president sharply criticised the EU’s substantial trade surplus with the United States, as well as its trade barriers, value-added tax system, regulatory actions targeting American firms, “ridiculous corporate penalties,” and alleged “monetary manipulations.” He described the bloc as “very difficult to deal with.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reinforced the president’s message during an interview with Fox News, explaining that Mr. Trump was frustrated by “the EU’s pace” and perceived lack of seriousness in negotiations. “The president believes the EU proposals have not been of the same quality as we’ve seen from our other important trading partners,” Bessent said. “I would hope that this [Truth Social post] would light a fire under the EU.”
Mr. Trump’s tariff threat came just hours ahead of a scheduled call between U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič.
Analysts widely viewed the move as a high-stakes negotiating tactic aimed at forcing Brussels to accelerate talks and offer greater concessions. However, the economic stakes are significant: EU member states export approximately $600 billion (£447 billion) to the U.S. annually, with Germany and Ireland particularly exposed due to their substantial automotive and pharmaceutical exports.
EU Leaders Condemn Trump’s Tariff Threat as Brussels Prepares Retaliation
President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 50% tariffs on all European Union imports has drawn sharp criticism from EU leaders and triggered a global market sell-off, amid growing fears of a renewed transatlantic trade war.
Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin called the move “enormously disappointing” and warned that such tariffs “would grievously damage one of the world’s most dynamic and significant trading relationships.” French trade minister Laurent Saint-Martin added that the U.S. president was “not helping during the negotiation period” between Washington and Brussels. German foreign minister Johann Wadephul described Trump’s comments as unconstructive, stating they “help nobody.”
Brussels, long wary of renewed trade tensions under Trump, has reportedly prepared retaliatory measures targeting over €95 billion (£80 billion) worth of U.S. exports. In the short term, EU member states have already approved a €21 billion package of counter-tariffs—potentially reaching up to 50%—on a range of U.S. products including wheat, motorcycles, and clothing.
The escalating threat of tit-for-tat tariffs between two of the world’s largest economies rattled investors, triggering declines across major stock markets globally.
Meanwhile, UK political commentators noted the growing sense in Britain that it was “well out” of the EU, as the bloc braces for a potentially prolonged and damaging trade standoff with the U.S.
