Trump hits European cars. Customs duties will increase to 25%. Brussels responds with calm

European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier announced on Monday that the EC “remains calm” in response to the US announcements regarding the introduction of new tariffs on European cars. He added that the EC has tools to “protect the interests of the EU”.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is “pleased to announce” that he will increase tariffs on cars and trucks from the EU to 25% next week. He accused the European Union of not respecting the trade agreement with the United States. However, he did not specify in what aspect.

– They did nothing about it – said Greer (US Trade Representative (USTR) in the Donald Trump administration) in an interview for CNBC, adding that legislative work in the European Parliament to approve the agreement is “very slow” and the proposed amendments would limit American exports.

– At one point, after many months of talks with European colleagues, the president decided that since the Europeans were not implementing the agreement, we did not have to implement it in its entirety either – he explained.

Greer emphasized that the increase in car tariffs is “just one element” of a broader trade puzzle. He noted that he had been in contact with European and German trade officials over the weekend to explain the reasons for the decision on tariffs and to recall previous discussions regarding the compliance of EU actions with the agreement.

The US is threatening price increases, and the EC is preparing tools for retaliation

– It didn't change anything on our side. Why? Because we are the most reliable partner in the world. When you sign an agreement with the EU, you know that you will receive exactly what you agreed on. That is why we have been implementing the joint statement from day one and are fully committed to implementing our common obligations, the EC spokesman assured on Monday.

He added that the EC has “options to protect the EU's interests.” – We remain calm, focusing on enforcing the joint statement (trade agreement between Washington and Brussels) in the interests of our companies, our citizens. And this, by the way, on both sides of the Atlantic, he added.

Last week, after a meeting in Washington with the American Minister of Finance Scott Bessent, the EU Commissioner for Trade, Marosz Shefczovicz, argued that the US intended to stick to the trade agreement concluded with the EU in July 2025. The agreement, which entered into force in August last year, introduced, among others, a single customs duty of a maximum of 15%. for most EU goods, including cars.

From Brussels Łukasz Osiński (PAP)

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