The president of the United States, Donald Trumpsigned on Thursday a memorandum to impose “reciprocal tariffs”, with the European Union as one of the main victims.
“Everyone has taken advantage of the US and we have paid a high price for it. The United States has helped many countries over the years with a large financial cost. Now is the time for those countries to remember what we have done for them and treat us fairly, “Trump said.
The document signed by Trump focuses on two aspects that, according to him, have generated a “unfair” treatment for the US in international trade: Tariffs imposed by other countries to US exports and the so -called “non -tariff barriers”, ranging from regulations to rates for currency change.
So are the reciprocal tariffs announced by Trump
These “reciprocal” tariffs will be applied to countries that tax American products, with the objective of match the rates that these nations apply to US exports.being European countries some of the main affected.
“I have decided that, for reasons of justice, I will impose reciprocal tariffs, which means that What a country makes the US pay, we will charge them the same, neither more nor less“Trump explained to the press in the Oval Office of the White House.
The new tariffs They will not take effect immediately, but within a period of “weeks” or “months”and the first to be punished will be Those with a higher commercial deficit with the United Statesaccording to a senior official before the signing of the memorandum.
Each nation will face Personalized tariffsaccording to the aforementioned official. A 10 % or 25 % uniform rate will not apply, but The administration will establish specific rates based on tariffs and commercial “barriers” that each nation imposes on the US
What do new tariffs imply for the EU: the most affected sectors
The president was especially critical of the European Union, which he accused of being “absolutely brutal in trade” and imposing what he described as “An undercover tariff” through VAT (Value Added Tax)which varies between 17 % in Luxembourg and 27 % in Hungary.
“There is a reason why Germany sells more cars than we sell themand it is not because of the quality of manufacturing or American design. It is simply for unfair commercial practices, and that is lethal. It is a hidden tariff, “Trump said.
As explained by a senior official before the Trump memorandum signing, The European automotive sector could face a significant increase in its rates. At the moment, Washington applies a 2.5 % tariff to imported vehicles, but this figure could rise to 27 %.
Currently, The EU imposes a 10 % tariff on imported cars, in addition to community VATwhich is minimum of 17%. Therefore, with the new policy, the US would apply an equivalent rate, adding 10 % tariff and the corresponding percentage of VAT, which could raise the total rate to 27 %.
Tariffs as a pressure instrument for Trump
The details of the tariffs in the executive order have been deliberately left at a flexible pointsince Washington’s intention is that each country renegotiates the rates currently imposed on American products, according to the aforementioned official.
Thus, the measure announced on Monday is part of Trump’s strategy to use tariffs as a pressure tool to obtain concessions not only in commerce, but also in migration and securitywith the expectation of forcing each country to sit down to negotiate directly with the United States.
