The United States may soon impose a sweeping 50% tariff on goods imported from the European Union, citing what officials describe as longstanding trade imbalances and unfair treatment of American companies.
In a strongly worded announcement, U.S. leadership criticized the EU for erecting “powerful trade barriers, VAT taxes, corporate penalties, monetary manipulation,” and engaging in “unjustified lawsuits against American companies.” These actions, the statement claims, have contributed to a trade deficit of over $250 billion annually.
“The European Union has been very difficult to deal with,” the announcement read. “Our discussions with them are going nowhere.”
The proposed tariff, set to take effect on June 1, 2025, will not apply to products built or manufactured in the United States.
The decision, if finalized, could mark a major escalation in transatlantic trade tensions.
