Washington, May 23, 2025 - President Trump has threatened to impose a 50% tariff on all European Union products, starting June 1, 2025. He also mentioned a 25% tariff on iPhones not manufactured in the U.S. Trump stated that the EU has been "very difficult to deal with" regarding trade.
Trump voiced his concerns on Truth Social, accusing the EU of exploiting the United States on trade. He highlighted issues such as trade barriers, VAT taxes, and unfair lawsuits against American companies. Trump also stated that he informed Tim Cook of Apple that he expects iPhones sold in the United States to be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else.
The president claims these practices have led to a trade deficit with the U.S. exceeding $250 billion annually. Negotiations with the EU have reportedly stalled, prompting the threat of increased tariffs. The EU Commission declined to comment and will wait for a phone call between EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic and his U.S. counterpart Jamieson Greer to take place later on Friday.