Trump Cranks Up Pressure On Mexico, European Commission With 30% Import Tariff

Last Updated:July 12, 2025, 18:39 IST

President Trump announced 30% tariffs on imports from Mexico and the EU, effective August 1, to address trade deficits. Similar letters were sent to 14 countries.

US President Donald Trump. (File)

US President Donald Trump on Saturday released new tariff letters for Mexico and the European Union, announcing 30% tariffs on import goods and stressing that these tax rates are “far less" than what is needed to eliminate the “trade deficit" between the US and the trading partners.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating that these tariff slabs will come into effect from August 1.

In the two nearly identical letters, Trump said he took particular issue with the trade deficits the United States runs with both countries, meaning America buys more goods from there compared to the amount that American businesses export to those countries.

“It is a Great Honor for me to send you this letter in that it demonstrates the strength and commitment of our Trading Relationship, and the fact that the United States of America has agreed to continue working with Mexico," the letter to the Mexican president read.

In the letter to European Commission president, Trump said. “Starting on August 1, 2025, we will charge The European Union a Tariff of only 30% on EU products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff."

Embarking on a letter-post spree this week, Trump sent out similar-worded letters to the leaders of 14 countries, imposing tariffs on their imports.

Japan and South Korea became the first countries to have received the letters shortly after 9.30 pm IST, July 7, as announced by Trump earlier that he would start sending letters to 12 to 15 countries about tariffs or deals with the United States.

Minutes after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during her daily briefing that more letters are expected during the course of the day, Trump posted five more letters to Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and South Africa. Tunisia, which got the letter after a short pause, was slapped with a 25% tariff on its imports.

Malaysia and Kazakhstan were slapped with a 25% tariff each on their exports to the US. Both countries widely export materials such as electronics, energy, and industrial metals to the United States.

The US President further imposed as high as 40% tariffs on goods from Myanmar and Laos. South Africa will face a 30% tariff, as per Trump’s announcement.

In each of his 14 letters, Trump warned against any retaliatory tariffs, threatening reciprocation from the US.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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