Trump to impose 30% EU tariffs on Aug. 1

July 12 (UPI) — The United States will start charging 30% tariffs on August 1 on products coming into the country from the European Union and Mexico, President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday.

Trump confirmed the tariffs separately in letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, which were both posted on Truth Social.

“The United States of America has agreed to continue working with the European Union, despite having one of our largest trade deficits with you,” Trump wrote in the letter, which referred to the trade deficit as a matter of national security.

Trump addressed the possibility of retaliation in both letters.

“If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs and retaliate, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 30% that we charge,” Trump wrote to both von der Leyen and Sheinbaum Pardo.

In the letter to the EU, Trump cited the need to “move away from these long-term, large, and persistent, Trade Deficits, endangered by your Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers.”

Trump also indicated the 30% figure would not level the playing field entirely.

“Please understand that this 30% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with the EU,” the letter.

Those tariffs could climb if the EU fails to “allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no Tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit.”

On Saturday, von der Leyen addressed the issue of retaliation.

“A 30% tariff on EU exports would hurt businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue working towards an agreement by August 1,” von der Leyen wrote on X Saturday morning.

“At the same time, we are ready to safeguard EU interests on the basis of proportionate countermeasures.”

Mexican officials struck a positive tone following the announcement.

“Mexico is already in negotiations with the United States to protect companies and jobs,” Mexico’s economic secretary and Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X, accompanied by a link to a full statement.

“We were informed that as part of the profound change in U.S. trade policy, all countries would receive a letter signed by the U.S. President establishing new tariffs starting August 1. We stated at the meeting that this was unfair treatment and that we disagreed,” the Mexican government said in the statement.

“The delegations agreed that the first major task of the permanent binational group will be to work to ensure that before that date we have an alternative that allows us to protect companies and jobs on both sides of the border. It is very significant that starting July 11, we established the necessary pathway and forum to resolve any possibility of new tariffs taking effect on August 1. In other words, Mexico has begun negotiations.”

Trump in his letter to Mexico again referenced the continued flow of fentanyl into the United States.

“Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground,” Trump wrote.

“Also, I must mention that flow of Fentanyl is hardly the only challenge we have with Mexico, which has many Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies, and Trade Barriers, which cause unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States.”

The news comes as Trump this week announced 35% import tariffs on all imports from Canada as the two countries were in the midst of negotiations.

Trump earlier this month said he would not waver from his July 9 deadline to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world that failed to reach agreements with the United States.

Letters with final “take it or leave it” offers then began going out last week.

Vietnam and Britain are among the few countries that have reached deals with the United States on the tariff front prior to the deadline.

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