Trump Recommends 50% Tariff on EU Goods, Starting 1st of June
President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is recommending a 50% tariff on imports from the European Union, citing stalled trade talks and what he called “unfair treatment” of American companies.
“Our discussions with them are going nowhere,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025.”
Trump criticized the EU’s “powerful trade barriers, VAT taxes, ridiculous corporate penalties, non-monetary trade barriers, and monetary manipulations,” adding that these policies have contributed to a $250 billion annual trade deficit with the U.S.—a number he labeled “totally unacceptable.”
The proposed tariff would be more than double the 20% reciprocal tariff briefly implemented during Trump’s previous administration before being paused for negotiations. The new proposed figure signals a dramatic escalation in trade tensions, should it be enforced.
Analysts say the proposed tariff, if implemented, could disrupt transatlantic trade, raise costs for both European and American businesses, and escalate geopolitical tensions.
While the recommendation doesn’t immediately trigger the tariff, it signals Trump’s return to aggressive trade policy as a potential cornerstone of his 2025 platform. The statement may also be aimed at pressuring the EU to return to the negotiating table under U.S.-favored terms.
As global markets digest the announcement, all eyes are now on the June 1 deadline—and whether the EU will respond diplomatically or retaliate with tariffs of its own.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
