Trump threatens steep tariffs on commerce with the European Union — and on iPhones

President Trump on Friday threatened on social media that he could impose a steep 50% tariff on imports from the European Union beginning June 1 due to a scarcity of progress in talks about commerce points.

Trump warned in a separate submit that he had “long ago” informed Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner that iPhones should be manufactured in america — “not India, or anyplace else” — or he would impose a tariff of no less than 25% on them. He didn’t give a particular date for when he would impose that tariff.

Trump had eased off on tariff threats since early April, when he introduced tariffs on practically each nation, solely to pull lots of them again per week later for what he described as a 90-day pause after inventory markets had plunged and economists warned of recession.

His preliminary price for the EU on April 2 had been 20%. The EU had threatened countermeasures on the time.

Trump’s officers launched into talks with a collection of nations in search of to barter decrease charges. However Trump stated negotiations with the European Union weren’t going properly. “Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025,” Trump stated on social media.

Trump has lengthy complained about EU commerce limitations, its VAT taxes, financial coverage, and lawsuits in opposition to American firms — and says it is unfair the EU sells extra to america than it imports.