Trump hits EU, Mexico with 30 per cent tariffs
President Donald Trump threatened to implement a 30 percent tariff for imports from Mexico and the European Union, starting on August 1, when he could not reach a comprehensive trade agreement after the negotiations lasted for weeks with the US allies and best trade partners.
In the rise of Trump’s trade war, the new tariffs were announced to Claudia Sheinbaum, President of the European Commission President of the European Commission and President of Mexico on Saturday in separate letters on Saturday.
The European Union and Mexico are among the largest US trade partners.
Trump sent similar letters to 23 US trade partners, including Canada, Japan and Brazil this week, and from 20 percent to 50 percent blanket tariff rates and 50 percent tariff in copper.
The deadline for August 1 is time to negotiate a trade agreement that can reduce threatening tariff levels to the countries targeted by Trump’s letters.
The EU hoped to make a comprehensive trade agreement with the US for the 27 -country block.
Three EU officials told Reuters on Saturday that Trump’s threats represented the negotiation tactic.
Trump’s letter to the EU included a prominent situation of any future agreement, the request of Europe to reduce its own tariffs.
“The European Union will allow the United States to have a full, open market access to the United States without being accused of any tariff in order to reduce the major trade deficit.”
EU President Von Der Leyen, 30 percent of tariffs “Atlantic businesses, consumers and patients on the damage, the basic transatlantic supply chains will disrupt,” he said.
In addition, while the EU continues to work for a trade agreement, “if necessary, they will take all the necessary steps to protect the interests of the EU, including the adoption of proportional measures,” he said.
Canada has achieved a tariff ratio higher than Mexico, and both letters refer to Fentanyl flow, but the government data shows that the amount of drugs seized on the Mexican border is significantly higher than the Canadian border.
“Mexico is not enough. Mexico still did not stop the cartels trying to turn the entire North America into a Narco-commerce playground,” Trump said, “Mexico is not enough.”
Mexico sends more than 80 percent of its total exported goods to the United States and free trade with its northern neighbor, in 2023, as the best trade partner in the United States to cross China.
The European Union was preparing for Trump’s letter, which summarizes the planned duties of the US on the largest trade and investment partner after the expansion of the tariff war in recent days.
At the beginning, the EU hoped to make a comprehensive trade agreement, including zero tariffs for industrial goods, but difficult talks for months realized that he would probably have to settle a temporary agreement and hoped that something better could still be negotiated.
The 27 -country block said that while the power center made a quick agreement to protect Germany’s industry, other EU negotiators such as France should not make a unilateral agreement under US conditions.
Since Trump’s return to the White House, it has started to produce tens of billions of dollars a month with a new income for the US government. According to the US Treasury data, US Customs Duties income passed by US $ 100 billion ($ A152 billion) until June.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Mexican Ministry of Economy did not immediately respond to comments requests.
