Egypt Daily News – U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the imposition of 30% tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union, effective August 1. He warned that any European goods attempting to bypass these tariffs would be subject to even higher duties.
Trump disclosed the new tariffs in two letters shared on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, notifying key trade partners that the measures would be enforced unless they could negotiate more favorable terms with the United States.
The newly announced tariffs do not include previously implemented or planned sector-specific duties on key imported goods. Instead, they represent a broader escalation of Trump’s protectionist trade policy.
In his message to the European Union, Trump stated that “the EU will open its markets completely to the United States,” warning that if the bloc responds with retaliatory tariffs, “we will increase the additional rate on top of the 30% we are imposing.”
EU Reaction to the Tariffs
The European Union had been working toward a preliminary agreement with the U.S. to avoid new tariffs. However, Trump’s message dampened hopes for a last-minute resolution between the two economic powers.
In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued an official statement warning that the 30% tariffs on EU exports could “disrupt critical transatlantic supply chains, harming businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.” She emphasized the EU’s readiness to “continue working toward an agreement by August 1,” while affirming that the bloc will “take all necessary steps to protect EU interests, including adopting proportionate countermeasures if needed.”
If implemented alongside existing tariffs on cars and steel, the new measures could place the EU at a competitive disadvantage compared to U.S. exporters.
Notably, the new tariffs are higher than those initially proposed in April, with the rate for the EU rising from 20% to 30%. Mexico, which was not included in the earlier list, has now been added at a full 30%.
Regarding Mexico, Trump wrote: “Mexico has failed to stop the cartels trying to turn all of North America into a drug trade zone. I clearly will not allow that to happen!”
Broader Impact
The announcement targeting Mexico and the EU follows similar tariff declarations affecting several other U.S. trading partners, including:
- Brazil: 50% (up from 10% in April)
- Laos and Myanmar: 40%
- Iraq, Algeria, Libya, Sri Lanka, and South Africa: 30%
- Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Brunei, Moldova, and Tunisia: 25%
- The Philippines: 20%
A comparative table below shows the changes between the newly announced tariffs and those initially disclosed in April:
| Country | New Tariff Rate | April Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 50% | 10% |
| Laos | 40% | 48% |
| Myanmar | 40% | – |
| Thailand | 36% | 36% |
| Cambodia | 36% | 49% |
| Canada | 35% | – |
| Serbia | 35% | 37% |
| Bangladesh | 35% | 37% |
| Indonesia | 32% | 32% |
| Iraq | 30% | 39% |
| Algeria | 30% | 30% |
| Libya | 30% | 31% |
| Sri Lanka | 30% | 44% |
| South Africa | 30% | 30% |
| Mexico | 30% | – |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 30% | 35% |
| European Union | 30% | 20% |
| Moldova | 25% | – |
| Brunei | 25% | 24% |
| Japan | 25% | 24% |
| South Korea | 25% | 25% |
| Malaysia | 25% | 24% |
| Kazakhstan | 25% | 27% |
| Tunisia | 25% | 18% |
| Philippines | 20% | 17% |
These broad tariff increases represent a significant shift in U.S. trade policy and signal potential disruptions in global trade dynamics, especially if major economies move forward with retaliatory measures.
