Another Weekend Surprise from US President Donald Trump: He Announced Major Tariffs!

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he is preparing to impose a 30% customs duty on imports from the European Union and Mexico starting August 1.

This announcement came after the failure of weeks of trade agreement negotiations. Trump announced it through letters sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on the social media platform Truth Social.

The European Union and Mexico are among the largest trading partners of the United States. Trump's move signals a new phase of a trade war that could have global implications. This week, Trump sent similar letters to 23 countries, including Canada, Japan, and Brazil, setting general tariff rates between 20% and 50%. It was reported that a special tax of 50% is planned for copper imports.

Trump's tariffs will come into effect if no new trade agreement is reached with the targeted countries. In a letter sent to the European Union, the President stated that the EU's removal of its own tariffs is a prerequisite for a possible agreement with the US. "The European Union will provide the US with full and open market access in an effort to reduce the significant trade deficit," the letter noted.

European Commission President von der Leyen stated that Trump's tariffs would "cause serious disruptions in transatlantic supply chains," adding that the EU would implement retaliatory measures if necessary to protect its interests. While Germany took a stance in favor of quickly reaching an agreement, some members, like France, believe that "the conditions dictated by the US should not be submitted to."

In the letter sent to Mexico, it was emphasized that despite the country's contributions to border security, cartel activities have not been stopped. Trump said, "Mexico is helping me with border security, but that's not enough." More than 80% of Mexico's exports go to the US, and as of 2023, the country has surpassed China to become the US's largest trading partner.