Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico

US President Trump announced on the 12th that a 30% tariff will be imposed on EU and Mexico from August 1st.
Trump wrote to European Commission President von der Leyen and Mexican President Seinbaum on the same day and published the contents of the letters on social media.

In the letter to von der Leyen, Trump pointed out that the US-EU economic and trade issues have been negotiated for many years, but are far from the level of reciprocity. The US side decided to correct the long-term and persistent trade deficit caused by EU tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers.

In the letter to Seinbaum, Trump accused Mexico of failing to crack down on drug cartels, which to some extent led to the fentanyl crisis in the United States. Although Mexico assisted the US in dealing with border issues, “Mexico did not do enough.”

Trump also said that if the EU and Mexico take tariff countermeasures, the US will increase the tariff rate on a 30% basis.

Since July 7, Trump has sent letters to leaders of more than 20 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Canada, Brazil, etc., announcing the so-called “reciprocal tariff” rates against these countries.