Negotiations stall, Trump imposes 50% tariff on EU starting 1 June
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JAKARTA – United States President Donald Trump on Friday (23/5) announced the imposition of a 50% tariff on all products imported from the European Union.
The tariffs will not apply to products manufactured or assembled in the United States and will take effect on 1 June 2025.
The announcement was made via Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, in a strongly worded message full of accusations against the EU.
“The European Union, which was formed with the primary goal of taking advantage of the United States in trade, is very difficult to deal with,” wrote Trump, who authored the 1987 book The Art of the Deal.
He went on to cite several practices he deemed unfair by the EU, including strict trade barriers, value-added tax (VAT), unreasonable sanctions against companies, non-monetary trade barriers, monetary manipulation, and unfair lawsuits against American companies.
Trump claimed these practices have led to a trade deficit with the EU of more than USD 250 billion annually, calling it a completely unacceptable figure.
“Our negotiations with them have made no progress! Therefore, I am recommending a direct 50% tariff on the European Union, starting 1 June 2025. This tariff will not apply to products made or produced in the United States. Thank you for your attention!” he declared.
This new tariff adds to a series of duties introduced since April 2025, including a general 20% tariff on European exports, and a 25% tariff on strategic sectors such as steel, aluminium, and automotive.
Other affected products include machinery, agricultural goods, aircraft, semiconductors, and energy—though energy-related items are currently exempt from tariffs.
It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of the EU’s goods exports to the US—worth around 370 billion euros—are now subject to tariffs.
As quoted by en.cibercuba.com on Friday (23/5), this move signals a new aggressive chapter in Trump’s trade policy and risks escalating tensions between the world’s two major economic powers.
So far, the European Union’s response has been cautious. The European Commission has prepared a list of US-origin products worth 95 billion euros that could face retaliatory tariffs if negotiations collapse. However, implementation remains on hold pending the outcome of diplomatic contacts. (DK/ZH)