Trump tears up part of EU tariff deal to raise import duties on cars and lorries | Trump tariffs
Donald Trump said he would tear up part of the tariff deal he reached with EU leaders on his golf course in Scotland last summer, criticizing Brussels for taking so long to ratify the deal.
Catching Brussels by surprise, he announced late on Friday, a public holiday in much of Europe, that he would raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the EU to the US from 15% to 25% starting next week.
Vehicles produced in the US by EU companies will be exempt from the increase, Truth Social wrote.
“Based on the fact that the European Union has not fully complied with our agreed-upon Trade Agreement, I am pleased to announce that I will be increasing tariffs on European Union cars and trucks coming into the United States next week,” Trump said.
In his follow-up comment, he appeared to refer to the EU’s investment promises, saying “many auto and truck factories are currently under construction and $100 Billion is being invested, a RECORD in the History of Auto and Truck Manufacturing. These Factories Working with American Workers Will Open Soon.”
German MP Bernd Lange, chairman of the EU parliament’s international trade committee, said: “This latest move shows how unreliable the US side is. Close partners cannot be treated this way.”
“We can now respond very clearly and decisively, simply by leveraging the power of our position.”
Although the European Parliament voted to advance the deal at the end of March, it has still not been formally signed in what is known as the “tripartite” process, which involves signatures from the European Commission, EU leaders, the European Council and parliament.
The EU is likely to launch an intense diplomatic campaign to bring the deal back from the brink.
The commission did not comment specifically on the increased car tariff, instead saying it remained committed to last year’s agreement and would “keep its options open to protect EU interests”.
The latest tariff development comes as Trump threatens to withdraw US troops from Italy and Spain, a day after he said he was considering reducing the number of troops deployed in Germany.
Asked late Thursday whether he would consider withdrawing U.S. troops from Italy and Spain, he told reporters: “Probably…look, why wouldn’t I? Italy hasn’t done us any good, and Spain has been terrible, absolutely terrible.”
The announcement of the tariffs came a week after European Commission vice president Maroš Šefčovič made a three-day trip to Washington and met with all relevant senior figures in the Trump administration, including commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, US trade representative Jamieson Greer and treasury secretary Scott Bessent. This was Šefčovič’s first trip since the signing of the EU-US tariff agreement in July.
The news also comes weeks after the European Parliament voted to approve the deal, pausing the formal process twice.
In January, lawmakers formally suspended the process in protest of Trump’s threat to take over Greenland from Denmark, and in February parliament paused voting procedure Following the negative decision of the US Supreme Court.
Although the 15% tariff deal was declared illegal by the Supreme Court earlier this year, the tax on cars was imposed under a separate law known as Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.
The Turnberry agreement in Scotland imposed a 15% tariff on imports from the EU on most goods, including cars, which at the time were facing 50% tariffs on exports to the US.
After intense lobbying by the EU, German automakers, and words from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump relented and agreed to include cars in the basic all-in tariff rate of 15%.
However, the 50% tariff on steel remained, and in return the EU agreed to buy $750 billion in energy from the United States and invest $600 billion in the United States.
A European Commission spokesman said: “The EU is implementing its joint statement commitments in line with standard legislative practice and keeping the US administration fully informed throughout. We maintain close contact with our counterparts, including seeking clarity on the US’s commitments.”
“We are fully committed to a predictable, mutually beneficial transatlantic relationship. Should the United States take measures inconsistent with the joint declaration, we will keep our options open to protect EU interests.”
