European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen swiftly addressed the recent announcement by United States President Donald Trump regarding a significant 25 percent tariff on imported automobiles. This decision marks a considerable escalation in Trump’s ongoing trade conflict and is expected to have far-reaching implications for the global economy.
Impact on the European automotive sector
President Trump revealed that the tariffs would come into effect on April 3, delivering a harsh blow to the European automotive industry. In a statement issued late Wednesday, von der Leyen expressed her strong disapproval of the U.S. decision, emphasizing the adverse effects of such tariffs. “I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on European automotive exports,” she stated. “Tariffs are taxes — bad for businesses [and] worse for consumers equally in the US and the European Union.”
EU’s response and future measures
Von der Leyen indicated that Europe would carefully evaluate the implications of the tariffs and anticipated additional actions from the White House in the coming days. Trump, known for altering his stance on tariffs concerning allies and adversaries alike, reiterated the immediacy of the new measures by declaring, “We’re signing today. It goes into effect April 2. We start collecting on April 3.”
Despite her cautious tone, von der Leyen made it clear that the European Union is ready to respond decisively. “The EU will continue to seek negotiated solutions, while safeguarding its economic interests,” she noted, highlighting the collective strength of the 27 Member States. “We will jointly protect our workers, businesses and consumers across our European Union.”
The repercussions of these tariffs will be felt not just in Europe but across the globe, as the United States imported $214 billion worth of passenger cars in 2024 from various countries, including non-European allies such as Japan, Mexico, and South Korea.