EU vows response to Trump's 30% tariff announcement

The chair of the European Parliament's international trade committee called Trump's announcement of further tariffs on the EU "a slap in the face."

"Real willingness to negotiate looks different," said Bernd Lange, who called for decisive countermeasures.

He called for the first stage of countermeasures to come into force on Monday, followed quickly by the second package.

According to Lange, the bloc must consider the use of anti-coercion instruments, which could, for instance, exclude US firms from public contracts in the EU. 

US President Donald Trump promised in his inaugural address this year to "tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens."

By setting new tariff rates, Trump aimed at reducing the country's trade deficit, which is when the US imports more from a country than it exports to that country, and first announced plans for a "reciprocal" tariff on February 13.

But experts have warned that tariffs could cause chaos for global markets and disrupt the US economy at home.

The timeline so far

April 2: Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" when he announces long-promised "reciprocal" tariffs, declaring a 10% baseline tax on imports across the board starting April 5, as well as higher rates for dozens of countries that have a high trade deficit with the US. The calculations for the tariff rates cause widespread confusion.

April 5: Trump's 10% minimum tariff on nearly all countries and territories takes effect. 

April 9: Trump's higher "reciprocal" rate goes into effect, but his administration says just hours later it is pausing higher rates while maintaining the 10% levy on most global imports.

April 10: EU suspends its steel and aluminium tariff retaliation measures for 90 days — those measures were a response to Trump's 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminium that took effect in March.

May 23: Trump threatens a 50% tax on all imports from the EU as well as a 25% tariff on smartphones unless those products are made in America.

Trump says frustrated by lack of progress in talks with EU, writing on Truth Social: "Our discussions with them are going nowhere!" 

May 26: Trump says the US will delay implementation of a 50% tariff on goods from the EU from June 1 until July 9 to buy time for negotiations with the bloc.

July 7: Trump signs an executive order to push the deadline for higher tariffs to August 1 and sends his first letters telling 14 countries' leaders that their exports to the US would face a new tariff rate.

July 8: Trump says he's not going back on his word and insists that the August 1 deadline is the final one.

July 9: Trump sends more letters, hitting Brazil with a 50% tariff rate. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promises to reciprocate.

July 12: Trump announces a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, claiming Canada had "financially retaliated" to earlier duties. He says the EU will receive a similar letter soon.

July 13: Trump announces a 30% tariff rate on the EU and Mexico, telling both that "whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added on to the 30% that we charge."

The EU's key exports to the US include pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments, and wine and spirits. 

French President Emmanuel Macron said his country, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, "shares the same very strong disapproval at the announcement," which comes "after weeks of intense engagement."

"With European unity, it is more than ever up to the Commission to assert the Union's determination to resolutely defend European interests," Macron posted on X.

The French president added that the bloc would need to speed up "the preparation of credible countermeasures" if no agreement is reached by August 1, when the new tariffs will begin to take effect.

The EU has the ability to enact the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) which allows it to retaliate against countries seeking to pressure its members. It has been repeatedly brought up as a possible response to Trump's threats.

It can limit access to companies from those countries to public procurement tenders and target services trade or investment.

At the same time, Macron said he hopes "a mutually acceptable agreement" will be reached by then and that "France fully supports the European Commission in the negotiations, which will now intensify." 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office has issued a response to President Donald Trump's announcement of a 30% tariff on EU goods from August, saying:

"We trust in the goodwill of all players in the field in order to reach a fair agreement that can strengthen the West as a whole, given that — particularly in the current scenario — it would make no sense to trigger a trade clash between the two sides of the Atlantic.

"It is now crucial to remain focused on the negotiations, avoiding polarisations that would make reaching an agreement more complex." 

Netherlands' caretaker prime minister, Dick Schoof, has also issued his response to US tariff of 30% on EU goods. 

"The US announcement of 30% tariffs on goods imported from the European Union is concerning and not the way forward," Schoof said.

"The European Commission can count on our full support. As the EU we must remain united and resolute in pursuing an outcome with the United States that is mutually beneficial," he added.

Dick Schoof is in charge of the Dutch government in a caretaker role until a new government is formed after snap elections, scheduled for the second half of this year.

Germany's Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said that the US tariffs "would hit European exporting companies hard."

"At the same time, they would also have a strong impact on the economy and consumers on the other side of the Atlantic," Reiche said in an emailed statement.

"A pragmatic outcome to the negotiations must be reached quickly," she added.

You can read more of the latest updates from Germany in our special blog.

The president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry VDA said in a statement that costs were piling up for car companies and that the "EU and US must continue to find a solution as quickly as possible to avert the impending consequences on both sides of the Atlantic."

"It is regrettable that there is a threat of further escalation of the trade conflict and that a solution has still not been found for the tariffs of 27.5% on car imports to the USA, which remain in force," said Hildegard Mueller, president of VDA.

"The costs for our companies are already in the billions — and the sum is growing every day. Suppliers are also significantly affected — also in light of the additional 30% tariffs on goods from Mexico that have now been announced."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this month urged the EU to settle the tariff dispute with the US as quickly as possible to protect core industries like cars, steel and pharmaceuticals.

German car companies have been shipping more vehicles to the US over the past months in an attempt to get ahead of any tariffs.

Trump had threatened to impose 50% tariffs if the EU failed to clinch a deal by July 9, a deadline that then got pushed back to August. But now he has announced new tariffs of 30% starting August 1.

European Council President Antonio Costa said the 27-member bloc stood ready to support the European Commission's efforts "to reach a fair agreement with the US."

"Free and fair trade drives prosperity, creates jobs and strengthens supply chains. Tariffs are taxes. They fuel inflation, create uncertainty and hinder economic growth. We will continue to build strong trade partnerships worldwide," Costa wrote in a post published on X.

"The EU remains firm, united and ready to protect our interests, in full support of President von der Leyen and the Commission's efforts to reach a fair agreement with the US," he added.

The European Council defines the general political priorities of the bloc, while the European Commission is the executive arm and is responsible for trade policy.

Weeks of trade deal negotiations with Brussels seem not to have eased Trump's accusations of "long-term and persistent trade deficits" against the EU.

How are EU leaders reacting to the US President's announcement on Saturday? DW reports from Brussels.

The German industry trade association BDI has called for urgent talks to resolve an escalating trade war as US President Trump threatened to impose 30% tariffs on imports from the European Union.

"President Trump's announcement is an alarm signal for industry on both sides of the Atlantic," said Wolfgang Niedermark, a member of the executive board of the BDI said in a statement.

"The BDI calls on the German government, the European Commission and the US administration to find solutions very quickly in an objective dialogue and to avoid an escalation," he added.

The German economy, the biggest in Europe, is heavily reliant on exports and thus particularly vulnerable to a trade war with the US.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is prepared to take the necessary steps to safeguard its economic interests if the US proceeds with imposing a 30% tariff rate on EU exports.

Von der Leyen, who heads the EU's executive arm, said in a statement that the bloc remained ready "to continue working towards an agreement by Aug 1."

"Few economies in the world match the European Union's level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices," she continued.

"We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required."  

Good afternoon and welcome to our Saturday coverage following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 30% tariff rate on all goods coming into the US from the EU.

The EU was bracing for the announcement since it failed to strike a trade deal with the US after it said it would levy a 20% import tax, or tariff, on EU goods in April, aimed at reducing the US trade deficit.

Follow along as we bring you the latest updates and reactions in this new chapter of the Trump tariffs saga.