Donald Trump has announced that next week he will increase customs duties on cars and trucks coming from the European Union, raising them to 25% from the previously agreed 15%. According to the US president, the decision is a response to the European bloc’s failure to comply with the trade agreement with Washington. Trump also reiterated that if car manufacturers produced vehicles in US plants, no duties would be applied.
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Trump announces new tariffs on EU cars
The choice immediately provoked critical reactions from European politicians and trade associations. A European economist urged Brussels and the German government to “finally show some courage,” calling for the introduction of retaliatory tariffs in response to the tightening announced by Trump. Also at the institutional level, the EU Commission rejected the interpretation that the EU had not respected its commitments, stating that it will keep “all options” open to protect European interests in case the US violates the terms of the agreement.
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Reactions from European politics
Against the backdrop of the trade dispute, the geopolitical context remains tense: tensions between the US and the EU are also fueled by the situation related to Iran and discussions on the contribution of European fleets for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. The decision also comes as the EU launches a new EU-Mercosur trade agreement, at a time when Brussels is accelerating several pacts to mitigate the impact of tariffs and volatility imposed by the Trump administration. In this context, the EU-US agreement on car tariffs has nevertheless been subject to delays in implementation: according to Reuters, the final timing is linked to negotiations between Union governments and the European Parliament, likely concluding no earlier than June.
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