Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on European Union cars and trucks to 25% starting next week. In a social media post, Trump stated the EU is not complying with a previously agreed trade deal and claimed the move would force automakers to accelerate factory production in the United States. He noted that vehicles produced in U.S. plants would face no tariff.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump says he will increase tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25 percent. He made the announcement in a Friday post on his social media platform, stating the new rate would take effect starting next week. “It is fully understood and agreed that, if they produce Cars and Trucks in U.S.A. Plants, there will be NO TARIFF,” Trump wrote.
He claimed over $100 billion is being invested in new automobile and truck plants currently under construction in the U.S. Trump said these facilities, which he described as a record investment, will soon open with American workers. The former president asserted the EU “is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal,” though he provided no specific details on the alleged non-compliance.
When asked by reporters about the import tax increase, Trump reiterated the EU was not adhering to last year’s trade framework. He added that he believed the higher tariffs “forces them to move their factory production much faster” to the United States. Previously, Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a trade deal in July that set tariffs at 15 percent for European goods.
That earlier agreement also included the EU purchasing $750 billion worth of energy from the U.S. However, EU leaders stated in February they would not accept an increase in U.S. tariffs. This followed a Supreme Court ruling against some of Trump’s most wide-ranging tariff policies.
