Trump announces 30% tariffs on imports from EU and Mexico
US President Donald Trump has announced he will introduce 30% tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union.
In a post on his platform, Truth Social, Trump announced the measures and said they would come into effect on August 1.
He claimed Mexico had not done enough to help him "secure the border" and prevent the US from becoming a "narco-trafficking playground".
Trump went on to criticise the EU, and wrote: “We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with The European Union, and we have concluded we must move away from these long-term, large, and persistent, Trade Deficits, engendered by your Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies, and Trade Barriers.
“Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.”
The Mexican government described the proposed move as "unfair treatment".
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded by noting the bloc's “commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership.
“At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.”
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s office said "it would make no sense to trigger a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic."
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It follows a spate of threats from trump to impose tariffs on certain countries to right an imbalance in trade.
Trump threatened a 35% tariff on goods from Canada on Thursday, and a 50% increase on import taxes for Brazil.
In April, dozens of countries were slapped with tariffs, before he paused them for 90 days to negotiate individual deals.
As the three-month grace period ended this week, Trump began sending his tariff letters to leaders - but he has again pushed back the implementation day for what he says will be just a few more weeks.
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