US President Donald Trump has once again stirred up tensions with the European Union by announcing plans to impose a 25% “reciprocal” tariff on EU goods, specifically targeting European cars and other products. In a statement during his Cabinet meeting, Trump accused Europe of unfairly taking advantage of the United States, claiming that the EU does not accept American cars and farm products while the US accepts everything from them.
The European Commission swiftly responded to Trump’s proposed tariffs, asserting that the EU operates as “the world’s largest free market” and has been advantageous for the United States by facilitating trade, reducing costs for American exporters, and harmonizing standards across 27 countries. The Commission vowed to react firmly and immediately against any unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, emphasizing that tariffs should not be used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies.
This latest exchange between Trump and the EU highlights the ongoing trade tensions between the two economic partners, with the EU already imposing a 10% tariff on vehicle imports compared to the US passenger car tariff of 2.5%. The future implications of Trump’s proposed tariffs on EU goods remain uncertain, but the dispute underscores the challenge of maintaining a balance between protectionism and free trade in the global market.
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Video “Trump floats 25% “reciprocal” tariff on EU goods | DW News” was uploaded on 02/27/2025 to Youtube Channel DW News