Reuters: Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico, triggering strong international reactions
Reuters, July 12 - U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that starting August 1, a 30% tariff will be imposed on goods imported from the EU and Mexico, triggering strong backlash. U.S. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar criticized the move, stating it would cause each American family to pay over $2,000 in additional tariff costs annually, emphasizing that "raising prices across the board does not help people in our country." European Council President Antonio Costa responded that the EU "remains firm, united, and prepared to protect its interests," warning that tariffs fuel inflation, create uncertainty, and hinder economic growth. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU prioritizes seeking stable solutions through negotiations, but "will take all necessary measures to protect EU interests, including taking countermeasures when needed." Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, pointed out that the existing 27.5% import tariff on U.S. cars has already cost European companies billions of dollars, with suppliers also heavily affected, urging the EU and the U.S. to quickly avoid consequences. The office of the Italian Prime Minister emphasized that "it makes no sense to trigger trade conflicts between the Atlantic sides," while Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schippers expressed concern that the tariffs "are not the way forward," supporting the EU's unity in response. Economist Dan O'Brien analyzed on social media that a 30% tariff would have significant trade disruption effects, while Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, advocated for a tough EU stance, as model calculations showed that the negative impact of tariffs on U.S. inflation, interest rates, and growth is greater than in the eurozone.
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