Trump is angry at the EU and announces new tariffs: 25 percent for European cars, unless they are built in the US

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the automotive industry and international trade relations, U.S. President Donald Trump has declared his intention to raise import tariffs on European cars to a steep 25 percent. This announcement, made via his Truth Social platform, signals a significant escalation in the ongoing trade disputes between the United States and the European Union. Trump asserts that European nations have failed to uphold the terms of an agreement reached last August, which had seen the U.S. reduce its own tariffs on European cars to 15 percent in exchange for the EU eliminating tariffs on American industrial products, including automobiles.

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Onacceptabel

The August accord was a landmark effort to de-escalate trade tensions, involving mutual recognition of vehicle safety and emissions standards—a crucial step given the divergent regulations between the U.S. and the EU, particularly concerning CO2 emissions where Europe's standards are more stringent. However, negotiations in Brussels over the final texts of the trade agreement were reportedly ongoing and expected to continue into the following month, according to Reuters.

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Bijvoorbeeld door op meer dan vierhonderd producten die staal en aluminium bevatten een gemiddeld tarief van 26 procent te doen gelden.

From the perspective of the European Parliament's international trade committee chair, Bernd Lange, Trump's pronouncements are 'unacceptable.' Lange, representing Germany's SPD party, argues that the EU has indeed honored the agreement, and it is the U.S. that is violating its terms, citing tariffs imposed on over four hundred steel and aluminum products. He further characterized Trump's actions as demonstrating 'once again how unreliable the American side is,' drawing parallels to previous 'arbitrary attacks' such as threats to acquire Greenland. Lange emphasized that this is not how partners should interact and that the EU must respond with 'the greatest possible clarity and determination.' This latest development underscores the fragility of international trade agreements and the unpredictable nature of U.S. trade policy under the current administration.

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Met zijn nieuwe heffingen laat Trump „maar weer eens zien hoe onbetrouwbaar de Amerikaanse kant is”