Trump Imposes 30% Tariffs on Mexico and EU, Citing Drug Cartels and Trade Imbalances
U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his trade agenda on Saturday, unveiling a 30% tariff on imports from both Mexico and the European Union. The new tariffs are set to take effect on August 1, 2025.
Trump made the announcement via his Truth Social account, sharing letters he sent to Mexican President Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Addressing Mexico, Trump accused the country of falling short in its efforts to combat drug cartels. “Mexico has assisted with border security, BUT what they’ve done isn’t enough,” he wrote. “The cartels are still attempting to turn North America into a narco-trafficking playground—and I cannot allow that.” He warned that if Mexico responds with its own tariffs, the U.S. would increase the rate beyond 30%.
In his letter to the EU, Trump criticized what he described as one-sided trade practices, stating that the U.S. must address persistent trade deficits created by European tariff and non-tariff barriers. “Our trade relationship has been far from reciprocal,” he said, adding that any attempt to reroute goods to avoid the tariffs would result in even higher penalties. “The 30% rate is actually less than what’s needed to correct the trade imbalance,” he noted, and warned of additional tariffs if the EU retaliates.
The announcements come on the heels of a broader tariff expansion earlier in the week, which included new duties on imports from Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Brazil, as well as a 50% tariff on copper.
