WASHINGTON DC: President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will impose a 30% tariff on imports from the European Union and Mexico starting August 1.

He warned that any retaliatory action by either trading partner would trigger an even higher tariff response from the US.

Trump also declared that new tariffs would be enforced from the same date on imports from Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Brazil.

Similar notifications have been sent to several smaller US trading partners.

In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump stated that the tariffs were a response to persistent and significant trade deficits, blaming EU-imposed tariffs and barriers.

He criticized the US-EU trade relationship as being far from reciprocal despite years of negotiations.

The 27-member EU earlier this week expressed optimism about finalizing a trade deal with Washington ahead of the August deadline.

Von der Leyen reiterated the EU’s commitment to fair trade and said the bloc would take “proportional countermeasures” if necessary to defend its interests.

According to the US Trade Representative’s office, the American trade deficit with the EU stood at $235.6 billion last year.

Trump has repeatedly targeted the EU in his trade policies, including a proposed 20% tariff in April that he later threatened to raise to 50% amid stalled negotiations.

Talks between Washington and Brussels aimed at a July 9 agreement remain unresolved.