In a sharp escalation of trade tensions, US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he may impose a 50% tariff on all imports from the European Union, reviving fears of a trade war.
The threat comes just hours before scheduled US-EU trade talks. Trump also specifically targeted Apple, warning that iPhones not manufactured in the United States could face an import tax of at least 25%. He later expanded the warning to include all smartphones assembled outside America.
Previously, Trump had unveiled a 20% tariff on most EU goods, later reducing it to 10% until July 8 to leave room for negotiations. But in a social media post on Friday, he expressed frustration:
“Our discussions with them are going nowhere!” he wrote, adding that new tariffs could be enforced starting June 1.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump reiterated his firm stance:
“I’m not looking for a deal—we’ve already set the terms,” he said, though he hinted that a major European investment in the US could lead to a delay.
So far, neither Apple nor the European Union has responded directly to the threats. EU leaders expressed disappointment but maintained a steady position.
“We are sticking to our strategy: de-escalation, but we’re ready to defend our interests,” French Foreign Minister Laurent Saint-Martin stated, calling Trump’s remarks “unhelpful” to the ongoing dialogue.
Experts warn that the situation remains fluid.
“This is not a formal action yet—no executive order has been issued,” said Aslak Berg, a trade analyst at the Centre for European Reform. “It appears to be a pressure tactic to strengthen the US position.”
Berg emphasized that the EU is unlikely to be intimidated:
“They’ll stay composed and continue talks. But make no mistake—this will be a tough negotiation.” $BTC