The U.S. President is once again violating existing trade agreements
The European Union will take the necessary measures to protect its interests if U.S. President Donald Trump imposes new 25% tariffs on cars from the EU. This was reported by Euractiv, citing a European Commission spokesperson.
“We remain fully committed to a predictable, mutually beneficial transatlantic relationship. Should the US take measures inconsistent with the Joint Statement, we will keep all options open to protect EU interests,” the EU official said.
On Friday, May 1, President Donald Trump announced that he would raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the EU next week, claiming that the bloc is not adhering to a previous trade agreement.
The agreement, signed in the summer of 2025, capped U.S. tariffs on cars and auto parts from the EU at 15%. This is lower than the 25% rate applied to many other U.S. trading partners.
However, Trump stated: “Given that the European Union is not adhering to our fully agreed-upon trade agreement, next week I will raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the EU to the US.”
“The tariff will be increased to 25%,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
An EU spokesperson emphasized that Brussels is fulfilling its obligations under the Joint Statement within standard legislative procedures and has kept the U.S. administration informed throughout the process.
“We maintain close contact with our counterparts, including as we also seek clarity on US commitments,” he added.
Trump did not provide additional details regarding the planned increase, but this announcement came a day after he renewed his criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
As reported by the GMK Center, in response to Trump’s inconsistent and unpredictable policies, the EU has already considered imposing trade measures. Specifically, in January, the EU considered €93 billion in retaliatory tariffs to deter Donald Trump from attempting to gain control over Greenland.
It is worth noting that German companies cut their investments in the U.S. by about 45% during the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, citing trade uncertainty. From February to November of last year, these investments totaled about €10.2 billion ($11.1 billion), down from nearly €19 billion during the same period a year earlier.
