EU defends itself against Trump's 50% customs threat - trade war threatens!

EU defends itself against Trump's 50% customs threat - trade war threatens!

EU, Europa - EU and the USA are on the verge of a trade conflict after US President Donald Trump threatened to introduce a 50%customs to all goods from the European Union. This announcement came for a dialogue and a fair trade agreement at a moment when the EU representative, led by trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic. Sefcovic emphasized that the EU's trading policy course had to be based on mutual respect and not on threats, while Trump explained that negotiations with the EU lead to the "nowhere" and recommended that the new tariff be started from June 1st.

The reactions from Europe were not long in coming. Sefcovic had talks with the US trade officer Jamieson Greer and Minister of Commerce Howard Lutnick. Leading EU politicians, including German Economic Minister Katherina Reiche and the French Foreign Minister Laurent Saint-Martin, demanded a negotiation solution and warned of the negative economic effects of the threat on both sides of the Atlantic.

diplomatic efforts and market reactions

The European Commission appealed for diplomacy and asked the United States to refrain from threats. At the same time, the EU prepares possible countermeasures if the conversations fail. Trump's officials not only ensure political tensions, but also led to a decline in stock markets: the S&P 500 fell by 0.8% and the Stoxx 600 by 1.2%, which reflects the uncertainty of the markets.

Trump had previously announced a 20% tariff to many EU goods, but reduced it to 10% by July 8 to keep the negotiating table. In this context, a possible 25%customs on iPhones that are not produced in the United States is increasingly in focus, which could influence the strategies of companies like Apple.

transatlantic relationships in change

The discussions about the trade negotiations are not new. After Trump's re -election in November 2024, the European Parliament had debated transatlantic relationships about the influence of this election. In a debate in February 2025, many MPs expressed their concern about the customs threats and called for a continuation of the cooperation between the EU and the USA.

For EU representatives such as Bernd Lange, chairman of the Committee on International Trade, the advantages of an open, fair trade rules are based on the trade experience of the past few years. Adam Szłapka, Polish Minister of European Affairs, and other leading politicians also warn that an unilateral approach in trade policy could be harmful to economic relationships.

The situation is tense, and while the EU has undertaken to defend its economic interests, it remains to be seen whether the willingness to talk on both sides is sufficient to avert an upcoming trade war.