Former US President Donald Trump threatened on Friday, May 23, to impose a 50 per cent tariff on goods imported from the European Union, accusing the bloc of being “very difficult to deal with.” The President also threatened to impose a 25 per cent import tax “at least” on iPhones not manufactured in America.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that the EU was primarily created to take advantage of the United States in trade matters.
He stated, “The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with. Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the US of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable.”
Trump added that talks with the EU had reached an impasse and warned that starting June 1, 2025, a 50 per cent tariff would be imposed on European goods imported to the U.S.
Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he concluded.
“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump said in a social media post.
