Trump Announces 25% Tariffs on Imported Cars and Trucks from the EU
Al Jazeera Staff
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on imported cars and trucks from the EU, accusing the bloc of not complying with a signed trade deal. The announcement, made on Truth Social, has raised concerns about further strains on the global economy. Experts warn the costs will likely be passed on to American consumers.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on April 24 that he would raise import tariffs on automobiles and trucks from the European Union (EU) to 25%. The declaration was made on his social media platform Truth Social, in which Trump accused the EU of “not fully abiding by the trade agreement we signed,” though he offered no evidence or specific details.
This move threatens to shake the already fragile global economy, still reeling from the fallout of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. Earlier, in February 2026, the U.S. and the EU reached a trade pact known as the Turnberry Agreement (named after Trump’s golf course in Scotland). That agreement set a tariff rate of 15% on most goods, lower than the 30% Trump had previously threatened.
However, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the president lacked the authority to declare a national emergency to justify many of his tariffs, the cap on EU tariffs was reduced to 10%. Despite the ruling, both sides had appeared committed to the agreement until Trump’s latest announcement.
The EU has yet to react immediately to the announcement. Meanwhile, Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA), urged the U.S. and the EU to respect the existing deal and resolve the issue quickly. Mueller warned that the cost of additional tariffs would be substantial and could impact American consumers.
According to the EU, the earlier bilateral agreement was expected to save European automakers between 500 million and 600 million euros (approximately $587 million to $704 million) per month. Trump said the new tariff would take effect next week.
Trump’s aggressive tariff campaign began last year, which he described as a reboot to boost domestic industries. However, experts note that progress toward that goal remains largely unclear, while critics point out that tariff costs are effectively borne by U.S. businesses and then passed on to consumers.
Following the court ruling, the Trump administration is expected to start refunding roughly $166 billion in duties to companies that directly paid these tariffs.
