Trump announces 30% tariffs on imports from the EU and Mexico

The EU will continue to suspend its countermeasures until early August and insist on negotiations

US President Donald Trump has announced the introduction of 30% tariffs on imports from the EU and Mexico from August 1. He made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social, CNN reports.

“The United States of America has agreed to continue working with the European Union, despite having one of our largest Trade Deficits with you. Nevertheless, we have decided to move forward, but only with more balanced and fair TRADE,” Trump said in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

On July 13, the European Union said it would continue to suspend countermeasures against US tariffs until early August and insist on reaching a settlement through negotiations, Reuters reports.

Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc would maintain its two-pronged approach of continuing negotiations and preparing countermeasures.

“We have always made it clear that we prefer a negotiated solution. That remains the case, and we will use the time we have now,” she said at a press conference.

The leaders of the bloc also responded to Trump’s announcement of 30% tariffs.

In particular, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the decision on July 12. He expressed support for the EU and the need to prepare reliable countermeasures if no agreement is reached by August 1.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also stressed that Madrid would support the European Commission in further negotiations. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the Swedish government regretted the US statement. He supported the EC’s desire to continue seeking a solution through negotiations.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on July 13 that he was “truly committed” to finding a trade solution, telling German public broadcaster ARD that he would work intensively on this with von der Leyen and the French president over the next two and a half weeks. The office of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that “it makes no sense to start a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic.”

At the same time, the Mexican government said that during high-level talks with US officials, it was informed of the appearance of Trump’s letter. The Mexican delegation informed the other side that it did not agree with this decision and considered it “unfair treatment.”

“The letter clearly states that the goal is to reach an agreement so that these tariffs are not imposed,” said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

She is confident that an agreement will be reached and that better trade conditions with the United States will be achieved.

Last week, Trump announced an increase in tariffs on imports from Canada to 35% from August 1, which caused concern among industrialists and steel market participants.