Trump threatens 50% TARIFF on EU imports – but delays it after talks with Brussels

05/26/2025 / By Laura Harris

President Donald Trump proposed a sweeping 50 percent tax on all EU goods starting June 1, accusing the bloc of exploiting the U.S. and flooding markets with cars and agricultural products.
The threat follows earlier tariffs (20 percent on EU goods, 25 percent on autos/metals) and Trump’s suspension of broader levies. He called the EU “nastier than China” and rejected mutual tariff elimination.
The EU vowed to protect its interests, with trade officials urging diplomacy but warning they are “ready to respond” if provoked. Germany and France called for negotiations over retaliation.
Industry leaders fear supply chain disruptions and higher consumer prices, especially since EU goods would face steeper tariffs than Chinese imports (recently reduced to 30 percent).
Trump declared he is “not looking for a deal” but suggested flexibility if European firms boost U.S. manufacturing investments. The administration insists the 50 percent rate is now its position. The U.S. president later agreed to delay the tariffs to July after a phone call from the EU’s von der Leyen.

President Donald Trump has threatened a sweeping 50 percent tax on all imports from the 27 blocs of the European Union (EU), following a 10 percent baseline tariff.

In April, Trump imposed a 20 percent tariff on all EU goods and a 25 percent duty on auto and metal imports but later suspended the broader levy for 90 days while maintaining a 10 percent baseline tariff. However, Trump escalated the rhetoric in May and called the EU “in many ways nastier than China” and accused it of flooding U.S. markets with cars and agricultural goods while blocking American exports. (Related: U.S. job market surges past projections despite looming tariff uncertainty.)

This led to aggressive new measures, announced via Trump’s Truth Social platform on May 23, imposing a new levy starting June 1. Trump claimed the EU was formed “for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the U.S.” and criticized the bloc’s economic policies, taxes and “unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American companies.”

“Our discussions with them are going nowhere!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday. “Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States.”

The proposed tariffs exceed those currently imposed on China, a geopolitical rival, where Trump recently reduced import taxes to 30 percent to facilitate ongoing negotiations. By contrast, the EU has pushed for mutual tariff elimination, an approach Trump has rejected, insisting on maintaining at least a 10 percent baseline tax on most imports.

Speaking later in the Oval Office, Trump doubled down, declaring he was “not looking for a deal” with Europe and that the 50 percent levy was now the administration’s position.”I’m not looking for a deal,” Trump told the reporters. “We’ve set the deal. It’s at 50 percent.” However, he suggested the tariffs could be delayed if European companies increased investment in U.S. manufacturing.

EU vows to defend interests amid tariff threats

In response to the threat, the EU has pledged to protect its economic interests.

EU’s top trade official Maros Sefcovic posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he spoke with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the issue.

“The EU is fully engaged, committed to securing a deal that works for both,” Sefcovic said, adding that the EU Commission remains ready to work in good faith towards an agreement. “EU-U.S. trade is unmatched and must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We stand ready to defend our interests.”

European officials also warned the tariffs would harm both economies. German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche called for a “negotiated solution,” while French Foreign Minister Laurent Saint-Martin said the EU prefers diplomacy but is “ready to respond” if provoked.

The move also drew criticism from business leaders, with fears it could disrupt supply chains and inflate consumer prices. If enacted, EU goods would face higher U.S. import taxes than Chinese products, after Washington recently lowered some Chinese tariffs to facilitate talks.

Trump later announced on the evening of Sunday, May 25, that he would delay the 50 percent tariffs following a phone call from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The conversation resulted in the U.S. president delaying the new levies to July 9.

Follow Trump.news for more about the U.S. president’s tariffs.

Watch the full episode of the “Health Ranger Report” with Mike Adams and Maxime Bernier as they discuss the Canada-U.S. trade war, immigration policies and calls for a populist revolution in Canada amid post-Trudeau political shifts.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Trump threatens 50% TARIFF on EU imports – but delays it after talks with Brussels

EU vows to defend interests amid tariff threats

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