Customs of 20 percent for imports from the EU

US President Trump continues his aggressive trade policy: In the future, Imports from the EU are to be charged tariffs of 20 percent. Many non-EU countries hit it even harder.

US President Donald Trump has announced new far-reaching customs measures “for countries all over the world”, which the European Union also hit hard. The President signed a corresponding decree in Washington.

Accordingly, there should be new flat -rate tariffs of ten percent on most imports to the United States. Depending on the trade deficit, higher punitive levies should apply to many countries, as the Republican announced in the Rosengarten of the White House. New tariffs of 20 percent are planned for imports from the European Union to the United States. The Republican wants to boost production in the USA.

“They play us off”

Trump spoke of so -called reciprocal, i.e. mutual, tariffs. This means that the United States raises tariffs where they are currently less demanding than their trading partners to compensate for alleged unbalance. The EU, for example, would raise 39 percent tariffs on imports from the United States, said the US President. “They play off to us. It’s so sad to see that. It’s so pathetic,” said Trump with a view to the Europeans.

In addition, there should be tariffs of 34 percent for imports from China, 25 percent for South Korea, 24 percent for Japan and 32 percent for Taiwan. It is the most aggressive and serious step in the US president’s trade policy. This is likely to burden the global economy to a considerable extent. Trading partners are already preparing counter -tariffs.

Trump’s “Liberation Day”

The President had previously advertised the day of his announcement as “Liberation Day” (“Day of Liberation”). “This day will go down in history when the day on which the American industry was born when America has recaptured its fate and the day we started to make America rich again,” said Trump.

“For decades, our country was looted, branded, raped and looted, from nearby and distant nations, of friends and enemies alike,” said the president. This is now over. Trump spoke of one of the most important days in US history. The “Golden Age” of the USA is coming back.

Customs are likely to be passed on to consumers

Since recovering into the White House, Trump – like in his first term – has been on tariffs. He already imposed criminal levies on all aluminum and steel imports, launched tariffs of 25 percent on imported cars and auto parts, introduced increased tariffs to all goods from China and targeted its neighbors Canada and Mexico. The auto tariffs in particular hit Europe and the German market.

An import customs works similarly to a tax. It must be paid by the importing company – in this case, by the companies in the USA. It is likely that the importing companies do not simply cover the higher costs themselves. They are likely to pass them on to consumers – the prices rise so that inflation could be fueled again. Trump’s goal is to prevent US companies from introducing products from abroad. This should promote the production site in the long term.

Consequences also expected for Germany

Since it is expected to be expected and the exporting companies should have a loss of sales, this could lead to a decline in production and possible job cancellations, which can burden the economy as a whole. An escalating trade conflict between the United States and the EU will therefore also have a significant impact for German consumers.

Foreign Trade President Dirk Jandura also expects this. “I say it very openly: We will feel that,” said the President of the Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade, Services (BGA) of the Reuters news agency.

The US Finance Minister Scott Bessent warned the affected states against reacting to the new tariffs with retaliation. This will lead to an escalation, Bessent told Fox News.