The US will soon impose a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from the European Union. This was announced yesterday, February 26, during the first government meeting of Donald Trump's second term as president here.
“We made a decision and will announce it soon. In general, this means 25 percent and it will apply to cars and similar items...I love European countries. In fact, I love all countries for many reasons, but the European Union was created to take advantage of the United States. That was the goal and they have done it splendidly”, he said.
According to Trump, these measures are aimed at protecting American manufacturers and creating equal conditions in the market for local products. He also stated that the imposition of tariffs is a response to the trade policy of the European Union and an opportunity to support the American economy.
According to “Reuters” news agency, the European Union imposes a 10 percent customs duty on light vehicles. This is four times higher than US customs duties, which stand at 2.5 percent. Additionally, the Value Added Tax (VAT) of 17.5 percent and above in EU countries is one of the reasons for the dissatisfaction of American officials.
The EU has responded to Trump's criticism by stating:
“The European Union – is the largest free market in the world. The European Union firmly and swiftly responds to unjust barriers to free and fair trade, including legal and discriminatory policies”, said a European Commission spokesperson.
Furthermore, the spokesperson highlighted that the European Union market “facilitates trade, reduces costs for American exporters, and harmonizes standards and regulations across 27 countries”.
