this post was submitted on 23 May 2025
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  • President Donald Trump on Friday said he is “recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union” after complaining that trade negotiations have stalled.

  • The EU “has been very difficult to deal with,” Trump wrote. “Our discussions with them are going nowhere!”

The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with. Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable. Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

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[–] martin4598@lemm.ee 31 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The EU should use the Chinese method:

The US puts 50% The EU puts 50. The US puts 100 The EU puts 100 Trump says "I´m waiting for them to call me" The EU doesn´t call. Trump says 10%

Job done in 2 weeks.

[–] vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

just up our prices. No need to shoot ourselves in the foot. You want a 50% tarriff? I will increase the prices I sell my stuff to you by 50% too. That effectively turns their 50% into 125%. If you do this for stuff they can only get from here then they'll quickly walk it back. Use their tarriffs against them, not do the same thing to our own citizens

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 days ago

You could do that by slapping export tariffs on things. It still harms whatever industry you do that to though.

[–] rylock@lemm.ee 159 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Another decision that benefits no one except Russia. Their asset sure is paying off.

[–] barnaclebutt@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Ironically, tariffs also crashes the price of oil which also hurts Russia.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Do you think Putin will want for anything for the rest of his life? Hurting Russia hurts the people, and the oligarchs are perfectly fine with that...

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 52 points 3 days ago

Christ on a cracker. We are not at war with anyone. Therefore every single one of these tariffs are illegal. He does not have the authority to be doing this shit and I am so fucking sick of it. Yes I am aware that the lapdog congress will do nothing to stop him. Yes I am still going to complain anyway.

[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 20 points 3 days ago (3 children)

He still doesn't know what a tariff is.

Also, I appreciate that every picture I see of Trump, even on official news sources, is an unflattering one. They always make sure to catch him with his mouth looking like what it is, that being an asshole.

[–] ghostlychonk@lemm.ee 4 points 3 days ago

He doesn't need to know. His supporters hear that corporations and other countries pay and they believe it, despite evidence to the contrary slapping them in their slack-jawed, dull-eyed faces.

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 4 points 3 days ago

Also, I appreciate that every picture I see of Trump, even on official news sources, is an unflattering one.

Err... that's Ursula von der Leyen

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[–] InvertedParallax@lemm.ee 47 points 3 days ago

I need to explain to people why this is so amazingly stupid:

You are literally giving Europe an excuse to put tariffs on American goods and services, which they want to anyway, to encourage domestic producers.

Also, you're making it easier for them to buy directly from south Korea, Japan and even China, especially since those countries can't sell as easily to the US.

For Europe this is an absolute win/win.

But honestly, this sounds like a way for Trump to put pressure on Europe to back off on Ukraine, as he probably thinks the EU is reliant on US LNG, which is kind of isn't really.

[–] sun_is_ra@sh.itjust.works 96 points 4 days ago (3 children)

"recommending" to who? he is ruling alone and everyone know that.

[–] bradinutah@thelemmy.club 40 points 4 days ago

His recommendation is to the apparently "beautiful face" in the mirror that his malignant narcissistic mind sees. The rest of us see an ugly old criminal tyrant with orange painted skin.

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[–] perestroika@lemm.ee 67 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

If he does that, the prices that rise most in the US will be medical products, medicines and motor vehicles.

The EU does have a trade surplus in goods with the US. The US has a nearly comparable surplus in trade of services.

If the EU were to respond by taxing US services harshly, we'd experience more expensive licenses and advertising costs. Year of the Linux desktop? Year of the dark red Google?

[–] Amberskin@europe.pub 7 points 3 days ago (2 children)

The EU will not tax products which are critical for the European economy until/unless there is a viable local alternative.

What I expect the EU to do is to subsidise those fledging local alternatives. And yes, this is against WTO rules, but I guess nobody cares about that anymore.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 3 points 3 days ago

It certainly should. Of course they shouldn't shoot themselves in the foot, like Trump is, but it's like play chess with a pigeon. It's not about normal tactics.

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[–] Gutek8134@lemmy.world 61 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (7 children)

America bonks Canada and Mexico saying "Tariff!"America wants to bonk EU "Ta- What is that?"EU with an RPG: "Ist meine Trade Enforcement Regulation"America backs down "I go to China! You are very, very bad! I tariff you soon!"

~~IIRC Trade Enforcement Regulation allows, among other options, for ignoring other country's patents and trademarks until someone else says it's time to stop. Correct me if I'm wrong.~~

Edit: Seems like I misremembered, because I can't find it mentioned in the regulation 654/2014, my bad

Edit 2: Okay, I think I've found it - 654/2014 was amended by 2021/167, and as far as I understand legalese THAT one allows for suspension of intellectual property rights. I'll wait with un-stroking the original paragraph until someone more knowledgeable confirms (or denies) my understanding

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[–] TranslateErr0rs@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Counting VAT as a trade deficit enabler is complete bullshit.

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[–] Rakonat@lemmy.world 16 points 3 days ago

Dude just wants to crater the US economy, specifically the stock market, and kill what credibility the US has thrived on since WW2. Can't help but feel Putin has a finger in this cause a weak US makes Russia look stronger.

[–] TheFrirish@jlai.lu 25 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The fact that we the EU are still trying to negotiate with the US is pathetic. We should not be entertaining this clique.

[–] Gsus4@mander.xyz 8 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Allies on paper, EU can't simply tell tramp to go fuck himself like China can, for now.

[–] TheFrirish@jlai.lu 4 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Good point but why do they get to tell us to go fuck ourselves then? We are also their allies on paper.

[–] Gsus4@mander.xyz 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

Well, the alliance was not symmetric to start with, the US used to call the shots and the EU would follow if it wasn't a stupid decision or sit on its hands otherwise. russia's invasion and the US's passivity is challenging that.

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[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 49 points 4 days ago (8 children)

I legitimately don't understand why what's left of the free world hasn't all gotten together and agreed to tarrif America all at the same time.

Just throw insane tareifs, and let trump sit in it for a couple months while everyone ignores all his phone calls and requests for meetings.

That would actually work.

[–] Bustedknuckles@lemmy.world 56 points 4 days ago (5 children)

Because, as we're experiencing, tariffs are a regressive tax on your own populace and hurt the most vulnerable. Also, they don't have to. We're pissing off enough regular people that they're voluntarily buying made-anywhere-but-USA. Lastly, why provoke an idiot with a huge military?

They can and will dismantle American power just by not buying our debt and then supporting a chamge in the world's reserve currency. Trump is screwing us for generations

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[–] justOnePersistentKbinPlease@fedia.io 18 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Because we are transitioning away from the US and that takes time.

E.G. Canada's government removed industrial tariffs temporarily but kept commercial good tariffs. This is so that Canadian industries can get the necessary tooling and other things from the US now and remove the US from Canadian logistics.

So that Canada can move to completely remove the US from the industry side.

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[–] Bwaz@lemmy.world 34 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Gee, wouldn't it be a surprise if a stock selloff by administration people had occurred just before this announcement? No one would expect that.

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[–] itsgroundhogdayagain@lemmy.ml 16 points 3 days ago

Just ignore him. He's proven multiple times he will cave.

[–] barnaclebutt@lemmy.world 34 points 4 days ago

Who gives a shit? Fuck the US. DJT is a pussy. See what just happened with China.

[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 38 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution vests the power to lay and collect tariffs with Congress.

Are we going to just ignore it? Technically tarrifs are supposed to be imposed by an act of congress, not the orange manchild in chief.

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 28 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Congress has long ago decided to stop being a coequal branch of government. Same now with SCOTUS.. They've ceded so much authority to the executive that they almost can't fight back now. Impeachment is the only option left and Republicans won't/can't. Our remaining hope is that Democrats will/can in 2 years. AND that significant reforms follow that will limit the president again.

Otherwise, we've become Turkey. A representative republic in name only.

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[–] Jhex@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

If by "we" you mean the American people, yes it will be ignored as they seem to fall into 3 categories at the moment:

  • completely clueless to the reality around them

  • know this is bad but waiting for someone else to do the job or really entice them into action with a nice juicy carrot

  • completely in agreement with the orange turd

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[–] Doomsider@lemmy.world 26 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Oh look, more grifting from the grifter in chief. Turning our government into an outright kleptocracy.

[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago

He wants bribes

[–] uebquauntbez@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

Oh, in Europe we have good math books for third-graders. Many pictures and drawings in it too. And not that many nasty equations.

We could send him one or two ...

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 9 points 3 days ago

Translation: punish them for not being nice to me.

[–] tal 14 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=USA-EU_-_international_trade_in_goods_statistics

Looks like that'd be bad for EU pharmaceuticals and auto manufacturers in particular.

WRT autos, it'd be doing the opposite of eliminating the chicken tax.

EDIT: Assuming (a) that tariffs go into force, (b) stay in place (with China they were cut to 30% before long), (c) exceptions don't show up (with China, electric devices were exempted), (d) and disregarding price elasticity of demand and how readily a given good could be obtained from elsewhere, all of which might, I expect, be substantial factors in impact.

EDIT2:

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/23/european-stock-markets-live-updates-ftse-dax-cac-40-stoxx-600-friday.html

European autos index sheds 3.6% after Trump 50% tariff threat on EU

I guess that'd support an argument of auto manufacturers being impacted.

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[–] Akasazh@feddit.nl 12 points 4 days ago

Just imagine what was agreed on in the 2 hr phone conversation between Trump and Putin?

Alrighty then, every MB of EU-user-generated data transferred to servers of US digital services now incurs a fee of 0.1€.

If you don't pay, or during ongoing proceedings, the packets are not forwarded to the IP range of that service.

I bet that would resolve all problems very quickly.

[–] OmegaLemmy@discuss.online 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Do it. Do it. Do it. it'll just push Europe away.

[–] fox2263@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (1 children)
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[–] Naevermix@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

This isn't about forcing the EU to accept some unfavorable deal, it's about devaluing the dollar.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 9 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Has anybody tried gifting Donald Trump an unseaworthy carbon fiber sub to secure a deal?

If something went wrong we would all understand, inherent vice and such being a well established legal concept. An insurer cannot be expected to guard against the inherent vice of the ocean, god, nor of an out of control fascist who will not follow rules.

[–] Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago

I wonder what'll happen to Tech giants' revenue in the EU if they decide to get serious about this.

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