New tariffs imposed by the United States have officially taken effect after months of delays and extensions. The measures, previously announced by former President Donald Trump, target imports from numerous countries globally.
Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, marking the implementation at midnight (6:00 AM Central European Time) stating, “It’s midnight. Billions of dollars in tariffs are now flowing into the United States of America.
The new framework introduces a baseline tariff of 10% on most imports entering the United States. This baseline, however, results in an average effective tariff rate exceeding 17%, representing the highest level seen since 1935. Goods originating from the European Union are now subject to a 15% tariff. Trump has indicated a potential escalation, threatening to raise EU tariffs to 35% should commitments regarding investment not be met.
As part of a prior trade agreement between the US and the EU, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged that the EU would channel $600 billion in investments toward the United States. Discrepancies appear to exist regarding the scope and nature of these commitments. Trump has recently characterized the pledge as a “gift” suggesting that the US should have the discretion to decide investment areas, while the European Commission has referenced expressions of interest from European companies.
