


President Trump fired off a series of trade war threats early Friday morning, announcing that he wants to impose a 50 percent tariff on the European Union, beginning June 1, and a 25 percent tariff on all Apple products.
In an early morning tirade on social media, Trump claimed the EU was formed “for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE.”
“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 percent 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!”
Trump’s negotiators are pushing their EU counterparts to make unilateral cuts to tariffs on U.S. goods, while the EU remains unwilling to concede without a reciprocal pledge from the Trump administration, the Financial Times reported Thursday.
Trump also lashed out at Apple, accusing CEO Tim Cook of ignoring his demands that the tech giant re-shore its massive and famously complex supply chain.
“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The announcement sent markets reeling, with Apple shares falling more than 2 percent in pre-market trading.
The vast majority of Apple manufacturing takes place in China, though the company has begun shifting some of the final stages of production to India in response to China’s unfair trade practices and Trump’s ongoing trade war with Beijing.
The threat comes after Trump met Tuesday at the White House with Cook, Politico reported. Cook donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and Apple has vowed to $500 billion to increase its U.S. manufacturing footprint, though it remains unclear exactly how the company plans to spend the money.