Donald Trump announces 30% tariffs on Mexico and the EU starting August 1

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, July 12, the imposition of 30% tariffs on Mexico and the European Union, further escalating trade tensions.

These tariffs will take effect on August 1, Donald Trump indicated in separate letters published on his Truth Social platform. He justified these decisions by citing Mexico's role in trafficking drugs to the United States and a trade imbalance with the EU.

In early April, the American head of state threatened the EU with imposing 20% customs duties on European products exported to the United States. At the end of May, frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations with the European bloc, he raised this rate to 50% , with an announced effective date of June 1, ultimately postponed to August 1.

Donald Trump warned that in the event of retaliatory measures from the European Union and the imposition of a possible tariff on American goods, this percentage would be added to the 30% tariff announced Saturday for European products entering the United States. The EU responded by criticizing this decision while stating that it remains ready to continue working towards an agreement.

According to diplomatic sources, the talks so far have been based on US tariffs of 10%, with several exceptions.

The Commission, however, indicated that no new meeting was planned between American and European negotiators for the time being. "If you are ready to open your closed market to the United States, to eliminate your customs duties, your protectionist measures and the barriers to trade, we will consider, if necessary, adjustments" to the customs duties promised on Saturday, the American president wrote to the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

"Imposing 30% tariffs on EU exports would disrupt vital transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic," Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

"We remain ready to continue working towards an agreement by 1 August. At the same time, we will take all necessary measures to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if necessary," she added.

In the case of Mexico, this is also an increase from the 25% previously chosen. Donald Trump did not specify whether these customs tariffs would only apply to products not covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) , as was the case for the 25%.

These non-USMCA goods represent only a minority of trade between the two countries. When asked, the White House did not immediately respond.

Since Monday, the Trump administration has specified to around twenty trading partners, mainly in Asia, the rates that will now be applied, from 20% to 40% with the exception of Brazil (50%).

Barring a trade agreement, some sixty nations are expected to face surtaxes of more than 10%, a minimum level that will apply to others, with Canada and Mexico being special cases. On Thursday, Donald Trump informed Canadian authorities that customs duties of 35% would take effect on August 1.