President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting August 1, following failed trade negotiations with both major U.S. partners.
The move escalates an ongoing trade dispute that has unsettled U.S. allies and markets. Trump shared the decision through letters addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, posted on his Truth Social platform.
In response, both the EU and Mexico condemned the tariffs as unfair and pledged to continue negotiations in hopes of reaching a broader trade agreement before the deadline. President Sheinbaum expressed optimism that a deal could still be achieved, but firmly stated that Mexico’s national sovereignty is non-negotiable.
Trump also sent similar tariff notifications to 23 other countries, including Canada, Japan, and Brazil, with rates ranging from 20% to 50%, and a separate 50% tariff specifically targeting copper imports. He clarified that the 30% tariffs would be imposed in addition to existing duties on steel, aluminum, and automobiles.
The August 1 deadline allows time for negotiations, and while Trump has previously backed down from tariff threats, this latest round signals a renewed assertive trade strategy. The administration’s earlier threats in April caused market disruptions, although implementation was postponed.
Despite record highs in the stock market and a strong U.S. economy, Trump appears determined to press ahead. Though he promised to secure numerous new trade deals during the previous tariff pause, only framework agreements with the UK, China, and Vietnam have been announced so far.
Trump’s letter to the EU called for the elimination of European tariffs on U.S. goods, citing the need to reduce the trade deficit. Von der Leyen warned that the new tariffs would disrupt critical transatlantic supply chains and said the EU is prepared to take countermeasures to protect its interests if necessary.
Mexico’s economy ministry stated it had been notified of the U.S. decision during a recent meeting and rejected the move as unjust. Notably, Mexico’s proposed 30% tariff is lower than Canada’s 35%, despite U.S. claims about cross-border fentanyl trafficking- an issue Trump referenced in his justification. U.S. data, however, shows the vast majority of fentanyl enters from Mexico, not Canada.
Free trade with the U.S. has been a key driver of Mexico’s export growth, with over 80% of Mexican goods sent to the American market. While the EU initially aimed for a full trade agreement, it has recently shifted toward a more flexible framework similar to the U.K.'s post-Brexit deal. Internal divisions persist within the EU, with Germany pushing for a swift resolution and France urging caution against yielding to U.S. pressure.
Bernd Lange, head of the European Parliament's trade committee, called for immediate countermeasures, criticising the U.S. approach as disrespectful. Analysts warned of a possible tit-for-tat escalation, drawing comparisons to the earlier U.S.-China trade conflict.
Trump’s tariffs are generating significant revenue for the U.S., with customs duties surpassing $100 billion so far this fiscal year. However, they have also caused friction with close allies. Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba recently stressed the need to reduce reliance on the U.S., while Canada and some European nations are reconsidering their defence relationships with Washington, including exploring alternative military procurement options.
Central Asia’s population could reach 96 million by 2040, according to the head of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), highlighting both the region...
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to say he would back any UK government plan to remove An...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency will halt the collection of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act on Tue...
The U.S. ambassador to Portugal has urged Lisbon to replace its ageing F-16 fighter jets with Lockheed Martin’s F-35, saying the stealth aircraft wo...
A British national was among at least 19 people killed when a passenger bus plunged off a mountain highway into the Trishuli river in Nepal before daw...
Central Asia’s population could reach 96 million by 2040, according to the head of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), highlighting both the region’s economic potential and the growing strain on infrastructure, trade routes and long-term development models.
A British national was among at least 19 people killed when a passenger bus plunged off a mountain highway into the Trishuli river in Nepal before dawn on Monday (23 February), authorities said. A New Zealander and a Chinese national were among those injured.
Against a backdrop of mounting environmental pressure across Central Asia, the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has announced that the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026 will take place from 22–24 April in Astana.
Iran has signed a secret €500 million arms deal with Russia to rebuild air defences, weakened during last year’s war with Israel, the Financial Times has reported. The agreement, signed in December in Moscow, will see Russia deliver 500 Verba launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles over three years.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of on Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
Iran announced on Saturday (21 February) that it has designated the naval and air forces of European Union member states as “terrorist entities” in a reciprocal move after the EU blacklisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to say he would back any UK government plan to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession, a statement shared by Starmer's office said.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency will halt the collection of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act on Tuesday (24 February), more than three days after the U.S. Supreme Court declared the duties unlawful.
The U.S. ambassador to Portugal has urged Lisbon to replace its ageing F-16 fighter jets with Lockheed Martin’s F-35, saying the stealth aircraft would ensure compatibility with Europe’s top-tier air forces.
A British national was among at least 19 people killed when a passenger bus plunged off a mountain highway into the Trishuli river in Nepal before dawn on Monday (23 February), authorities said. A New Zealander and a Chinese national were among those injured.
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas has said the bloc is unlikely to reach agreement on a new package of sanctions against Russia at Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers, as continued Hungarian opposition keeps consensus out of reach.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment