EU terms unacceptable
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to increase tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union (EU) to 25 percent next week, reported Xinhua.
“I am pleased to announce that, based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States,” Trump said on Truth Social, adding the tariff will be increased to 25 percent.
“It is fully understood and agreed that, if they produce Cars and Trucks in U.S.A. Plants, there will be NO TARIFF,” he stressed.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February that the Trump administration’s tariff policies under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unconstitutional. But the Trump administration has since introduced a new set of import taxes based on other laws, seeking to impose a new tariff regime.
According to EU statistical agency Eurostat, the value of EU-U.S. trade in goods and services reached 1.7 trillion euros (about 2 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2024, equivalent to roughly 4.6 billion euros per day.
The EU will “keep options open” to protect its interests if the United States takes measures inconsistent with the joint statement between the two sides signed last year on reciprocal, fair and balanced trade, a European Commission spokesperson said Friday.
Meanwhile, Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, told Xinhua on Friday that the latest tariff threat against the European Union (EU) is unacceptable and shows Washington is an unreliable partner.
Lange said the EU and the European Parliament are honoring the trade agreement reached with the United States in Scotland last year, and are working on legislation to implement it.
“We are currently drafting the legislation; we have a parliamentary position and aim to finalise this in June,” Lange said.
His remarks came after Trump’s latest threat earlier on the day that he would raise tariffs to 25 percent on cars and trucks imported from the EU from next week, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with the agreement.
Lange said the United States has repeatedly breached the agreement, including imposing tariffs on more than 400 products containing steel and aluminium. Those products are now subject to an average tariff of 26 percent, he said.
“This latest move demonstrates just how unreliable the U.S. side is,” Lange said.
He said Europe has already seen what he called arbitrary attacks from Washington over Greenland, adding that such behaviour is “no way to treat close partners.”
“Now we can only respond with the utmost clarity and firmness, drawing on the strength of our position,” Lange said.
