We are ready to defend ourselves: the EU responds to Trump's announcement of tariff increases

The governments of European countries have warned about the proposal of the American president Donald Trump for the United States to increase tariffs to 1 percent as of June 50, in order to increase carine were harmful to both sides.

European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said after a meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Latnick that trade between the EU and the US is "unparalleled" and must be based "on mutual respect, not threats".

"We are ready to defend our own interests," Sefcovic said.

Reactions from the EU

The European Union is one of America's largest trading partners. In 2024, the EU exported goods worth 528 billion euros to the USA, and imported goods worth 370 billion euros.

Regarding Trump's proposal, Irish Prime Minister Michel Martin said that negotiations are "the best and only viable way forward."

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof emphasized that he supports the EU's strategy in trade negotiations with the US, adding that it has been shown that "tariffs can go up and down in talks with America."

"We stick to the same position: de-escalation, but we are also ready to respond," said Laurent Saint Martin, the French trade minister.

German Economy Minister Katerina Reiche estimated that the EU "must do everything" to reach a solution with America.

What is Trump proposing?

In a post on social media on May 23, Trump said that "talks with the EU are going nowhere."

"That's why I'm proposing to increase EU tariffs to 50 percent starting June 1," Trump wrote.

The announcement is an escalation of Trump's trade war with the EU, which currently has a 10 percent tariff on all goods imported into America.

He also threatened to impose a 25 percent import tax on iPhones that are not made in America.

"I informed Tim Cook of Apple a long time ago that I expect their iPhones to be sold in America and to be manufactured and built in America, not in India or anywhere else. If that is not the case, Apple will have to pay at least 25 percent tariffs in the US," Trump said.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has imposed and threatened various tariffs on countries around the world, which he sees as a way to boost American manufacturing and protect jobs from foreign competition.

In April, Trump announced the introduction of higher tariffs for most of the world, only to postpone the decision for 90 days - the deadline expires in July.