Trump recommends 50 pc tariff on the European Union from June 1

US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he is recommending a straight 50 per cent tariff on the European Union citing that it has been difficult to deal with.

Trump said that the organisation was formed to take advantage of the US on trade but had powerful trade barriers, VAT taxes, corporate penalties, non-monetary trade barriers among other restrictions.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with. Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable."


The US president added that the discussions with the EU were going nowhere and that the proposed tariff would apply from June 1.

"Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump wrote.

Earlier, the US had imposed 25 per cent tariffs on EU cars, steel and aluminium in March and 20 per cent tariffs on other EU goods in April. It then halved the 20 per cent rate until July 8, setting a 90-day window for talks to reach a more comprehensive tariff deal.

In response, the 27-nation EU suspended its own plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on some U.S. goods and proposed zero duties for all industrial goods on both sides.