US President Donald Trump has said he is “recommending” a 50% tariff on all goods from the European Union being imported to the United States.
“Our discussions with them are going nowhere!”, he said in a post on social media on Friday. He said the new tariffs kick in on 1 June.
The announcement marks an escalation of Trump’s trade war with the EU. He initially proposed a 20% tariff on most EU goods, but halved it to 10% until 8 July to allow time for talks.
The president also threatened to impose a 25% import tax “at least” on iPhones not manufactured in America.
“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 said.
“If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.”
Since re-entering the White House, Trump has imposed and threatened various tariffs on countries around the world, which he sees as a way of boosting US manufacturing and protecting jobs from foreign competition.
A tariff is a domestic tax levied on goods as they enter a country, proportional to the value of the import and it is paid by the business importing them.
The prospect of higher tariffs being introduced on imports to the US has rattled many world leaders because it will make it more expensive and difficult for businesses to sell goods in the world’s largest economy.
On Friday, Trump said the EU had been “very difficult to deal with”.
“Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025,” he added.
Trump said there would be no tariff charged if the product was “built or manufactured in the United States”.
His warning to Apple comes after the tech giant said it was shifting production of most of its iPhones and other devices destined to be sold in the US away from China.
Tim Cook, chief executive of Apple, said earlier this month that the majority of the iPhones bound for the US market in the coming months are to be made in India, while Vietnam will be a major production hub for items like iPads and Apple Watches.
But Trump said: “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.”
“If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.”
