Trump said the tariff would take precedence over any trade agreements with the US, “whether implemented, signed or not.” That would include the deal agreed by the US and EU last year, which limits US tariffs on European goods to 15% in return for EU countries lowering tariffs on US industrial goods to zero.
The threat followed a lengthy EU legislative process to fulfil the bloc’s commitments under the deal. Trump had warned he could reimpose a 25% tariff on European imports, including cars, before EU lawmakers moved quickly to meet his 4 July deadline.
French President Emmanuel Macron said last week, before meeting Trump at a G7 summit, that France would not yield to pressure from him and abandon its digital tax on US technology giants. The services covered by the tax include online marketplaces and advertising.