US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that tariffs on European Union products would be set at 25 per cent, while also indicating that levies on Canadian and Mexican imports would take effect in early April.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting, Trump aimed at the EU, claiming that the bloc was established to undermine the United States.
“Look, let’s be honest, the European Union was formed to screw the United States,” he stated.
When pressed on whether he had finalised the tariff levels, Trump confirmed: “We’ll be announcing it very soon, and it’ll be 25 per cent, generally speaking.”
He added that the tariffs would target a range of goods, including automobiles, arguing that the EU had “really taken advantage of us.”
Trump has repeatedly warned of imposing reciprocal tariffs to counter what he sees as unfair and unbalanced trade practices by US trading partners.
He also suggested implementing extensive levies on key imported goods such as cars and pharmaceuticals.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has issued and later postponed broad tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing concerns over illegal immigration and fentanyl smuggling.
However, on Wednesday, he dismissed the idea that the tariffs had been abandoned.
“The tariffs go on—not all of them, but a lot of them,” he said, confirming that the duties would be enforced starting 2 April.
