US President Trump plans to impose additional tariffs of 30 percent on goods from the EU and Mexico starting August 1. Trump announced this on his Truth Social platform. The EU threatened consequences but remains willing to negotiate.

In the trade conflict with the European Union, US President Donald Trump has announced tariffs of 30 percent on goods from the EU. The US trade deficit with the EU is a threat to national security, Trump wrote in a letter published on his social media platform Truth Social. The measure is scheduled to take effect on August 1.

"We have discussed our trade relationship with the European Union for years and have concluded that we must move away from these long-term, large, and persistent trade deficits created by their tariff and non-tariff measures and trade barriers," Trump said."Our relationship, unfortunately, has been far from reciprocal."

Brussels still ready to negotiate

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reacted immediately. She warned the US government that 30 percent tariffs on EU exports would severely disrupt transatlantic supply chains. The EU has always sought a negotiated solution with the US and is ready to continue working toward an agreement until August 1. Should this not be achieved, the EU will take all necessary steps to protect its interests, including countermeasures. According to a spokesperson, the EU was informed in advance of the tariff plans.

In his letter, Trump further wrote:"The European Union will provide the United States with unrestricted, duty-free market access, without imposing tariffs against us, in an attempt to reduce the large trade deficit." What exactly the US president meant by this remained unclear at first.

Tariffs also affect many other countries

In another letter, Trump threatened neighboring Mexico with the same tariff rate. While he acknowledged to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that the country had been helpful in stemming the influx of undocumented migrants and the smuggling of fentanyl into the United States, he added that Mexico was still not doing enough. The country's Ministry of Economy subsequently stated that a bilateral working group was already working on an alternative to avert the new US tariffs before they take effect on August 1.

In recent days, the US President announced a series of new tariffs against certain countries, most recently on imports from Canada and Brazil.

With his tariff policy, the Republican aims to correct alleged trade imbalances and encourage more production in the US. The tariffs are already generating billions in revenue for the US government. According to data from the US Treasury Department on Friday, they exceeded the $100 billion mark in the current fiscal year through June.