The European Union has pledged to protect its interests after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on all goods imported from the 27-member bloc.
In a post on X, the EU’s chief trade official, Maros Sefcovic, said he had spoken on Friday with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the matter.
“The EU remains fully engaged and is committed to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement,” Sefcovic said. He emphasized that the European Commission is prepared to negotiate sincerely.
“EU-U.S. trade relations are unparalleled and must be rooted in mutual respect, not intimidation. We are ready to defend our interests.”
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said he is recommending a 50 percent tariff on EU goods starting June 1, citing stalled negotiations. Speaking from the Oval Office, the former president clarified that he is not actively pursuing a deal with the EU, but may delay the tariffs if European companies significantly invest in the U.S.
“I’m not looking for a deal,” Trump told reporters. “The deal is set — it’s 50 percent.”
European leaders cautioned that such tariffs would be damaging to both sides.
Germany’s Economy Minister Katherina Reiche stressed the need for the European Commission to pursue a negotiated resolution with Washington. Meanwhile, France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Saint-Martin noted the EU prefers de-escalation but is “prepared to act” if necessary.
If enacted, the proposed tariffs would result in the EU facing higher import duties on its exports to the U.S. than China, which recently saw its tariffs reduced amid efforts to restart negotiations with Washington. In early April, Trump had announced a 20 percent tariff on most EU products, later lowering it to 10 percent until July 8 to allow more time for talks.
Trump has criticized current trade arrangements, arguing that they disadvantage American companies, as the EU exports more to the U.S. than it imports.
Additionally, Trump warned on Friday that Apple could face a 25 percent import tax on all iPhones sold in the U.S. but not produced domestically.
His tariff threats rattled financial markets, with the S&P 500 dropping roughly 0.8 percent and the pan-European STOXX 600 index falling around 1.2 percent.
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