Trump announces 50% tariffs on EU, says he's not seeking a deal
3 Min Read
The US President claimed earlier that the EU is eager to reach a settlement but claimed their efforts fall short:
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President Donald Trump signs an executive order regarding reinvigorating the nuclear industrial base, in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 23, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
US President Donald Trump reaffirmed on Friday that his administration will implement a 50% tariff on goods from the European Union starting June 1, unless European manufacturers shift production to the United States. The move, he made clear, is not an opening for negotiation, but a fixed policy decision.
"I am not looking for a deal. I mean we've set the deal. It's at 50% but again, there is no tariff if they build their plant here," Trump stated during remarks in the Oval Office. He added earlier that the EU is eager to reach a settlement but claimed their efforts fall short: "The EU wants to make a deal very badly," he said. "They just don't go about it right."
The announcement is part of Trump's broader protectionist economic agenda, aimed at pressuring global companies to shift manufacturing to the US In line with this policy, he also threatened a 25% tariff on Apple products unless the tech giant moves iPhone production stateside.
Trump also announced plans to impose a sweeping 25% tariff on all smartphones not manufactured within the United States, a move that could significantly impact major global tech firms and intensify trade tensions.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump clarified that the tariffs would apply universally, not just to Apple, the U.S.-based tech giant.
“It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product, otherwise it wouldn’t be fair,” he said, emphasizing that the policy targets any company producing smartphones abroad.
The tariffs are slated to take effect at the end of June, unless trade deals or exemptions are negotiated beforehand. Industry analysts warn that the measure could lead to higher smartphone prices for American consumers and provoke retaliatory actions from affected countries, including South Korea and EU member states.
Trump's abrupt tariff declaration comes amid already strained US-EU trade relations, with no substantive progress reported in trade talks. He later posted on social media: "Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025."
The European Union has responded with alarm. Officials have warned of possible retaliatory measures, emphasizing the importance of maintaining open and rules-based trade between the two economic blocs. European stock markets reacted sharply, with major indices like Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 posting significant losses following the announcement.
Read more: European market turmoil spurs shift to defensive investments: EuroNews
Analysts warn that the tariff plan could spark a full-scale trade war, further disrupting global supply chains and stalling economic recovery. As the June deadline approaches, both governments and businesses are bracing for what could become one of the most disruptive chapters in transatlantic trade relations in decades.
