Trump recommends 50% tariff on EU to fix $250m US trade deficit

United States President Donald Trump has recommended a 50 percent tariff on the European Union (EU).

In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump accused the EU of using “powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits” against Americans companies.

Trump said the measures have led to a trade deficit of more than $250,000,000 a year with the US.

“…totally unacceptable,” the US president said.

“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!”

European stock market indexes fell sharply after Trump’s post.

In March, Trump threatened a 200 percent retaliatory tariff on alcohol from EU countries after the region slammed the US with a 50 percent tariff on whisky.

The taxes were in response to Trump’s global blitz of tariffs on top trading partners.

Later in April, the US president imposed a 20 percent tariff that was briefly in place in April before he swiftly paused those tariffs to allow for further negotiations.