The European Union and Mexico have criticised US President Donald Trump’s latest threat to impose a 30% tariff on their imports starting August 1, describing the move as “unfair” and a violation of established trade norms.

Trump announced the tariff hike in letters addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, warning that retaliation would prompt further increases.

“We have had years to discuss our trading relationship with the European Union, and have concluded that we must move away from these long-term-large, and persistent, trade deficits, engendered by your tariff, and non-tariff, policies and trade barriers,” Trump wrote, calling the bloc’s policies “far from reciprocal”.

A similar letter accused Mexico of not doing enough to combat drug trafficking.

Von der Leyen said the EU was still open to talks but vowed that “proportionate countermeasures” would follow if necessary. “Few economies in the world match the European Union’s level of openness and adherence to fair trading practices,” she added.

Mexico responded in strong terms, with its foreign and economy ministries calling the proposed tariff an “unfair deal”. President Sheinbaum stressed: “There is something that is never negotiated, ever, and that is the sovereignty of our country.”

French President Emmanuel Macron and European Parliament trade committee head Bernd Lange both voiced strong disapproval, with Lange calling Trump’s move “a slap in the face for the negotiations”.

Despite the backlash, Trump has defended the tariffs as necessary to address what he called “long-term-large, and persistent, trade deficits.” In a televised interview, he claimed, “hundreds of billions of dollars” were now “pouring in”.

With less than a month to reach a deal, both the EU and Mexico reiterated their readiness to negotiate, but warned they would not back down from defending their economic interests.

Follow us on: