US President Donald Trump says tariffs on cars and trucks coming from the European Union will be raised next week.
Trump announced on a social media post on Friday that the levies will be raised from 15 percent to 25 percent. He said the reason was the EU’s non-compliance with its trade agreements with Washington.
Trump told reporters at the White House that the EU “was not adhering to the trade deal we have.” He said Japan, South Korea, Canada and Mexico are building their plants in the US in accordance with their trade deals but not the EU.
Trump was referring to a deal struck last July that called for a 15-percent tariff on EU auto imports to the US. Trump initially asked for a 30-percent tariff.
Based on the deal, the European Parliament approved in March a bill to abolish tariffs on industrial products coming from the US. Legislative procedures are ongoing. The bill includes a clause to suspend the measure if Washington imposes new tariffs on the EU.
The Hill, a US political news outlet, points out the new tariffs “come against the backdrop of the Iran war, which has led to increased tensions between the U.S. and several European countries.” It added, “Trump has repeatedly criticized European members of NATO for not helping the U.S. effort against Iran.”