Well, former President Donald Trump has been plenty bold himself with a recent announcement. He proposes a 50% tariff on every product brought from the European Union (EU) to the U.S., incrementally enforcing the tariff on June 1, 2025. This proposal would be the latest salvo fired in Trump’s long-running war to change America’s trade relations and strengthen American manufacturing.
Trump suggested that Apple should be prepared to pay a new, large tariff – at least 25% – on any of its iPhones that it sells in the U.S. He tied this greenlighting to the company fulfilling particular promises on its manufacturing processes. We know that this is a priority for the President.
“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,” Trump stated. He stressed that should Apple not honor the agreement, it requires the company to pay a hefty tariff.
The former president’s latest tariff suggestions come after a long record of implementing and threatening tariffs on countries around the globe. Furthermore, the administration argues that these punitive tariffs are designed to increase U.S. manufacturing. So, not only do they protect great American jobs from unfair foreign competition.
“Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025,” Trump said. This figure is a dramatic departure from his previous demand of an outright 20% tariff on nearly all EU products. He temporarily lowered that threshold to 10% until July 8 to give both sides room to negotiate.
Trump’s frustration in getting the EU to agree to better trade terms is evident when he called the EU “very, very difficult to deal with.” The prospect of these heightened tariffs has raised concerns among world leaders, who fear it could lead to increased costs for businesses operating in the world’s largest economy.
The impact these tariffs have reach farther than household consumer products. Raising import duties will make it harder for everyone to do business across borders. Second, this regulatory change will raise costs for companies that wish to sell their wares in the U.S. market.
Our discussions with them are going nowhere! In fact, as Trump himself lamented, this is the reality of his frustration with where US trade talks with Europe stand today.