Trump says he will hit E.U. and Mexico with 30% tariff

Steve Kopack

Sat, Jul 12, 2025, 9:09 AM 5 min read

President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened a significant tariff hike on the European Union and Mexico, two of the largest U.S. trade partners.

In separate letters published on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote that each country will face a blanket tariff rate of 30% on all goods exported to the U.S. starting Aug. 1.

Trump threatened even higher tariffs if either the E.U. or Mexico retaliate against his new levy.

Writing to Mexico's president, Trump also focused on border security, saying that "Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough."

"Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground," he added.

Trump has spent the past week bringing his trade war back to a roaring boil. He kicked it off by issuing dozens of letters announcing unilateral tariffs, then said he planned to impose 50% duties on copper goods, sending prices of the raw metal to all-time highs. Late Thursday, he announced he would apply a blanket tariff of up to 20% on all imports, as well as a 35% tariff to some, and perhaps all, Canadian imports starting next month.

The letters come as the many trade deals that Trump administration officials had said would be signed have failed to materialize, leaving Trump with little to show for weeks of negotiations.

While Mexico was spared from Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" tariff rollout on April 2, the 30% rate for the E.U. is 10% higher than what the president said he would apply to America's largest trading partner in April but lower than his mid-May threat of 50%.

The 27-member European Union is the United States’ largest trading partner — its $605 billion worth of imports into the U.S. surpassing Mexico, Canada, and even China. The most valuable category was drugs and pharmaceuticals, followed by autos and aircraft and other heavy machinery. Trump has already threatened to impose a 200% tariff on any drugs imported into the U.S., though it would not be applied for at least 18 months.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded to Trump's letter, saying in a statement that "few economies in the world match the European Union's level of oppenness and adherence to fair trading practices."

But von der Leyen said she "will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests," including retaliatory tariffs "if required."

Mexico meanwhile is another one of the United States' most important trading partners, with more than $505 billion worth of goods imported by American consumers and companies in 2024.