Recently, the tons seemed more conciliance: at the beginning of April Trump imposed new duties, but a few days later he suspended them for 90 days. Recently, he even expressed the conviction that he would be able to find a solution with Europeans.
The threat of introducing 50 % duties is all the more surprising.
USA expert Thomas Jager (University of Cologne) considers Donald Trump's customs policy to be completely contradictory – It's not clear what he wants to achieve in this way. – withdrawal of the US from globalization? Larger production in the USA? Or maybe more state income? These goals are contradictory – says the political scientist “Bild”.
However, one can say: “America first” [jedno z haseł wyborczych Trumpa] turned into “America alone” because Trump gets together with everyone at once.
“Spectacular failure”
Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist Hamburg Commercial Bank, waving his hand: The threat of the American president cannot be treated completely seriously. “Trump is very unpredictable and I would not bet on this,” adds Holger Schmieding, the chief economist of Berenberg Bank.
Continued article under video material
Marcel Fratzscher, president of the German Institute of Economic Research, criticizes in his statement the lack of a uniform EU procedure and a real response to Trump's madness. “The strategy of Germany and the European Commission suffered a spectacular defeat,” he says. Nevertheless, he also believes that the threat of introducing duties “may not be the last word yet.”
Jager has a bitter conclusion: Trump is looking for a conflict with everyone distract from your own weaknesses. Only one person remains mild. “He repeats after Vladimir Putin,” says Jager.
The political scientist calls Trump a “ruthless gambler”, who “does not care about anything beyond his own account.” That is why he plays the world and destroys institutions in the USA. – He only builds his own fortune, and the rest is plunged into chaos – sums up the expert.
Change
US President Donald Trump announced on Friday in social media that he was in favor of introducing a customs rate of 50 percent. for imports from the European Union from June 1.
“The European Union, which was created primarily to use the US for trade, is very difficult to cooperate,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social networking site. “Our conversations are going nowhere! That's why I recommend a customs rate of 50 percent on the EU, from June 1, 2025. Customs are not valid if a given product is produced in the United States,” he added.
On Friday morning, the British daily “Financial Times” wrote that negotiators representing the President of the US are pressing the EU to reduce the duties on American goods unilaterally, threatening that otherwise he will not avoid “retaliating tariffs” in the amount of 20 percent.
In March, the US imposed duties in the amount of 25 percent. For cars, steel and aluminum imported from the EU, and in April they covered 20 % tariffs. Imports remained. Later Trump announced the suspension of elevated duties for 90 days, until July 8. During this time, negotiations on tariffs are to be underway and duties of 10 percent.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
