President Trump has announced new 30% tariffs on imports from the European Union and Mexico, set to begin August 1, 2025. In official letters shared on Truth Social, Trump warned that if either the EU or Mexico retaliates with their own tariffs, the U.S. will raise the rate even higher.
“If they increase their tariffs, we’ll match them — and then some,” Trump wrote.
These new tariffs come despite recent signs of progress in trade talks. The EU had hoped to avoid broad tariffs through negotiations, but Trump’s letter made it clear: tariffs are coming unless European companies shift manufacturing to the U.S.
The European Union is America’s biggest collective trading partner, sending over $553 billion in goods to the U.S. in 2022. Mexico sent about $454.8 billion in goods, making the two regions combined responsible for nearly a third of all U.S. imports.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the tariffs “disruptive” and warned they could hurt businesses, consumers, and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.
“We’re still open to reaching an agreement by August 1,” she said. “But we will protect EU interests, including with proportionate countermeasures if needed.”
Mexico Pushes Back
Mexico’s government said its officials met with U.S. trade leaders on Friday and were told about the tariffs, despite already working to improve cooperation on border security.
“This is unfair,” Mexico said in a statement, “but we’ve now created the platform to prevent these tariffs from being enforced.”
Trump’s Global Tariff Push
This latest move is part of Trump’s broader strategy to reshape global trade. Over the past week, he’s sent tariff warning letters to 23 other countries, including Canada, Japan, and Brazil. The new rates range from 20% to 50%, depending on the country.
The Trump administration describes these tariffs as steps toward “reciprocal” trade — where countries that benefit most from U.S. markets must give American goods fair access in return.
What Led to This
Back on April 2, Trump announced a global “liberation day” tariff plan, imposing a 10% baseline tariff and higher duties on dozens of countries. After global markets reacted sharply, he paused the tariffs for 90 days to allow time for negotiations.
So far, only the UK and Vietnam have reached preliminary trade deals. The UK’s agreement includes a 10% blanket tariff on its exports to the U.S.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised the UK’s swift action:
“The UK showed what good faith negotiation can achieve. It’s a model for others.”
Now, with the pause set to expire, Trump says all remaining countries will face tariffs — likely between 15% and 20%, though final numbers are still being determined.
“Everyone else is going to pay,” Trump told NBC News. “We’ll figure out the rate — maybe 20%, maybe 15%.”
What’s Next?
Unless last-minute deals are reached, the 30% tariffs on EU and Mexican goods will take effect August 1. Other nations are on notice too, as Trump signals a tougher trade stance heading into the final stretch of 2025.