US President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs of 30 per cent on goods from the European Union and Mexico from 1 August 2025. Further tariff increases have also been announced by the US against other countries (see table).
The EU is postponing its announced retaliatory tariffs in the trade dispute with the US until 6 August 2025. Originally, the retaliatory tariffs were to take effect on the Monday after 14 July 2025, in response to Trump's announcement of an increase in US tariffs from 1 August. The EU is now preparing a new list of retaliatory tariffs.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that a 30% tariff could disrupt transatlantic supply chains. However, she said the EU remained open to negotiations.
Exceptions for car parts, steel and aluminium
According to Trump's announcement, flat-rate tariffs of 30% will be imposed on imports from the European Union to the US from 1 August 2025. This measure affects almost all product groups with a few exceptions. Car parts and vehicles will continue to be subject to a separate 25% tariff, which has been in force since April 2025 and will not be increased by the new regulations. The existing 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium products will also remain in place, as these were previously classified as particularly vulnerable. These special tariffs for certain industries apply independently of the new general regulation and are not levied in addition to the 30%. This results in a differentiated tariff structure: most EU goods will be subject to 30% tariffs from August, while certain industrial goods will continue to be subject to specific, higher or lower rates.
Additional tariffs not yet legally binding
Important: The announced additional tariffs of 30% have so far only been announced in a letter from President Trump to the EU and published on his social media platform. This means that the additional tariffs are not yet legally binding. They will only become legally binding once they are published in the US Federal Register. This has not yet happened. However, publication could take place at very short notice, for example on 31 July or 1 August 2025.
Links:
Durchführungsverordnung (EU) 2025/1446
EU legt neue Liste für Gegenzölle vor
Trump kündigt 30 Prozent Zoll für EU-Importe an
Donald Trump kündigt Zölle von 30 Prozent auf EU-Waren an
Trump kündigt 30-Prozent-Zölle auf EU-Waren an
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