Trump recommends 50% tariff on European Union starting June 1
Source: CNBC
Published Fri, May 23 2025 7:47 AM EDT | Updated 15 Min Ago
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 steep new import duties would start on June 1, Trump wrote on Truth Social. The EU “has been very difficult to deal with,” Trump wrote. “Our discussions with them are going nowhere!”
Trump’s announcement came less than 30 minutes after he threatened to impose a tariff of at least 25% on Apple if the company does not start manufacturing iPhones in the United States.
Stock futures sank immediately following Trump’s posts, which showed the president once again wielding the threat of massive import taxes in response to economic activity he disfavors.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/23/trump-recommends-50percent-tariff-on-european-union-starting-june-1.html
I suppose the tariff announcements were his "big news" hinted at for today.
Article updated.
Previous article -
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 steep new import duties would start on June 1, Trump wrote on Truth Social. The EU "has been very difficult to deal with," Trump wrote. "Our discussions with them are going nowhere!"
Read Trump's full post:
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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Original article -
This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.

Renew Deal
(84,254 posts)
DENVERPOPS
(12,987 posts)if he get's 100% his way and they get zero.......
If you don't deal, he switches to extortion..........
He is like an angry three year old throwing a tantrum if he doesn't get his way....s
gab13by13
(28,827 posts)Krasnov just spoke with Putin for 2 hours. The EU has taken over the brunt of helping Ukraine in its war with Putin.
Hmm. I think that Krasnov got some orders in that 2 hour phone call.
BumRushDaShow
(156,496 posts)so someone is probably pissed off.
underpants
(191,408 posts)I think what you posted was a big part of this.
He hasn’t really negotiated anything yet and the EU jumped the gun on him while he was busy on his trip.
iPhones made HERE? Where? Unless they make them in prisons the cost is estimated at at least $3,000 from what I’ve seen. Some estimates are higher.
BumRushDaShow
(156,496 posts)45 "wanted" Greenland for their mineral resources.
There have never been any iPhones made here and the issue has come up multiple times over the years and is waved away because most U.S. corporations have been fed on "cheap labor". The "shaming" got so bad that Apple started putting the "Designed in California" on their iProduct labels to try to create some kind of "U.S." involvement.

underpants
(191,408 posts)I just checked mine but it doesn’t say that. It’s pretty old though - 12 mini.
I’m sure it was on the box.
They could just change the determination of the “Made in the US” as is done for several industries.
BumRushDaShow
(156,496 posts)but was on the box. But I did recently get a newer iPad (10th Generation) when it went on sale (my current, still chugging one is an old iPad Air2), and that newer iPad DOES have the "Designed in California" but also an "Assembled in Vietnam" on the back of it.
iluvtennis
(21,297 posts)Shipwack
(2,773 posts)Prison labor is already slavery in all but name. I can easily see an attempt to switch prisoners from making furniture to something else.
Or maybe Donny is going to have his own Cultural Revolution. He’ll forcibly switch people from “useless” or “degenerate” jobs such as university professors or DEI advisors to working jobs making iPhones, or picking crops.
underpants
(191,408 posts)You are right though. Re-educating people to fill positions currently filled by “others” isn’t unseeable.
iPhones are very well made and reasonably priced considering all they can do and how reliant we are on them. I hate it for people making it but Apple isn’t going to change that in any meaningful way.
usaf-vet
(7,603 posts)First, watch
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and his interview with Patrick McGee author of "Apple In China".Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(125,876 posts)He tries to intimidate then gets pissed off when things don't go his way.
forgotmylogin
(7,907 posts)"Stalled" means other countries holding their ground while Trump screams at the door that they need to grovel before him and plead to make a deal. Many countries have explained that Trump the "dealmaker" isn't making an offer they can consider. They increasingly don't need the US as a customer, and don't feel they need to do the work since Don gets his jollies from people approaching him like a mafia don to ask favors.
Prairie Gates
(5,648 posts)bucolic_frolic
(51,383 posts)Nothing is safe.
Scrivener7
(56,371 posts)BumRushDaShow
(156,496 posts)The Dow futures dropped 500 points with the news (and Apple stock was of course down).
ETA - latest blip that just came in less than a minute ago - Dow futures down 650.
dutch777
(4,623 posts)33taw
(3,202 posts)dutch777
(4,623 posts)...any US business that relies significantly on EU travelers. Pretty certain they won't be coming.
Martin Eden
(14,604 posts)The Felon is overplaying his hand.
Which is what Putin wants him to do.
ms liberty
(10,383 posts)Because the market can react for a bit and then close. After that, the pundits and spokesmodels will chew on it, and people will be ever so slightly stressed out about it, for all the 3 day weekend start of summer.
Oh boy. That should be really fun.
JohnSJ
(98,883 posts)clear that wall street has been making excuses for this administration since they announced a "temporary" 90 day hold on tariffs, is coming back to haunt them by "assuming" the 90 day pause meant that the tariff issue was all over.
ms liberty
(10,383 posts)Because well, the facts are horrifying and despair is not an option.
Humor fulfills my need to get over rough ground as lightly as possible.
NJCher
(40,676 posts)When I first heard the news this morning I had a vision of President Babyman in his high chair, throwing his cereal on the floor because Europeans were “difficult.”
Poor President Babyman. Life is supposed to be easy.
ms liberty
(10,383 posts)
nitpicked
(1,307 posts)Stock futures declined early Friday after President Donald Trump ramped up his trade fight again, slapping a tariff on Apple
for foreign-made iPhones and recommending new stiffer duties on the European Union.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 538 points, or 1.3%. Nasdaq 100 futures lost 1.9%, and S&P 500 futures
fell 1.5%.
Apple shares shed 3% in premarket trading after Trump posted on Truth Social that iPhones sold in the U.S. must be made in the U.S. and if they are not “a tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple.” The move against Apple by Trump is the first against a specific company in his tariff rollout this year.
Separately, the president said trade discussions with the EU “are going nowhere” and so he’s “recommending a straight 50% tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025.”
(snip)
((Let's see if the dipbuyers run in again to rescue stocks.))
JohnSJ
(98,883 posts)on tariffs was suddenly over, was gullible at best.
Rubber is now hitting the road, and it should be clear that uncertainty and chaos has always been the hallmark of trump and his thugs.
Per Bloomberg:
"US bond yields have surged this week as President Donald Trump's tax cut plan has ignited concerns that it would add trillons of dollars in comning years to already bulging budget deficvits, at a time when investor appetit is waning for US assets across the globe."
What this means is that interest rates on everything are going to go up, assuming his "big beautiful bill" passes the Senate, and if the past in any prediction of future events, regardless of the tough talk by a few of the rethugs in congress, in the end they will do whatever the sociopath wants.
speak easy
(11,947 posts)BumRushDaShow
(156,496 posts)is the debt ceiling increase and that can actually be pulled out as a standalone reconciliation bill (as one of the reconciliation types). If that is done, it can't be raised again using reconciliation until next FY (which could be after Oct. 1, 2025). That gives the GOP Senate more time, but also revives the "blame game" on raising the debt limit and causing a default (which is why the House wanted to go all or nothing).
gab13by13
(28,827 posts)His tariffs, the increased deficit, all weaken the dollar. His push to get Powell to lower interest rates also would weaken the dollar.
Yeah baby, look what that has done for Crypto. 16 Democratic senators just voted to boost Crypto. Krasnov has made 3 billion dollars from crypto since becoming president, not counting yesterday's Bribery meet and Greet dinner at Mar-el-Loco.
Things couldn't be going better for Krasnov.
Buddyzbuddy
(1,161 posts)Miguelito Loveless
(5,060 posts)KewlKat
(5,771 posts)nitpicked
(1,307 posts)US President Donald Trump has said he is "recommending" a 50% tariff on all goods from the European Union being imported to the United States.
"Our discussions with them are going nowhere!", he said in a post on social media on Friday. He said the new tariffs kick in on 1 June.
The announcement marks an escalation of Trump's trade war with the EU. He initially proposed a 20% tariff on most EU goods, but halved it to 10% until 8 July to allow time for talks.
The president also threatened to impose a 25% import tax on iPhones not manufactured in America.
(snip)
underpants
(191,408 posts)at some sort of a Q&A Saying that the reason they make iPhones in China is because of the dedicated experienced workforce making them. People scoffed saying it was because of low wages. Set aside building and workplace safety requirements here, it’s not just about wages. Granted they do have horrible workplaces (from what we’ve seen) but I think he’s right. I can’t imagine Americans doing that meticulous precise work every day for a series of years. They can walk out and work at Burger King or a gig job at probably the same wage at any time.
Unless Apple can actually make these things IN prisons*, the price is going to be much more and will the work be if the same quality?
*or localities where we tend to put prisons that become reliant on them.
riversedge
(76,549 posts)Verdict: Are Apple Products Made in the USA?
No, Apple products are not made in the USA. Their products are made worldwide, mostly in China.
Here is a label on an iPhone, clearly stating it is made in China:
Link to tweet
https://allamerican.org/investigation/apple/
BumRushDaShow
(156,496 posts)but the image from the site (I had actually been looking for a postable, more recent one earlier this morning when I saw the Apple tariff story) -
Playingmantis
(434 posts)He is really losing it.. crazy as a bat and soon Americans will realize what a stupid mistake it was to reelect a first class jackass! MAGA my ass!!
travelingthrulife
(2,862 posts)He is destroying all their businesses.
Alliepoo
(2,726 posts)I hope he burns the movers and shakers to the ground. They so richly deserve it.
Pototan
(2,717 posts)and my 401k loses thousands in a single day.
And same.
riversedge
(76,549 posts)LOTS of Red
Ed Krassenstein
@EdKrassen
·
1h
BREAKING: President Trump just called for a 50% "straight tariff" on all of the EU, and a 25% tariff on iPhones that are not manufactured in the United States.
He's now attacking our biggest allies, and one of America's most successful companies, as the stock market tanks on the news.
Link to tweet
lonely bird
(2,410 posts)I thought Trump was the great deal maker?
Botany
(74,704 posts)This will hurt America and Americans not Europe.
Aviation Pro
(14,516 posts)And find a safe harbor instrument. I did in February while maintaining my 401K at a low risk.
This is not meant to be financial advice.
orangecrush
(25,585 posts)Go fuck yourself
Tarzanrock
(1,187 posts)The Turd is desperate. The Turd's already failed presidency is now sinking like a large rock thrown into a lake. The Turd's insane economics policies will, in the end, doom both him and his presidency.
If you read the Turd's "tweet" this morning -- you immediately realize that the "fucking moron" has zero understanding of international trade,
international economics; taxation; and, international law for remedies for corporate manipulation of things like violations of trademarks,
copyrights, patents, intellectual property rights and the like which leads to the "lawsuits" this idiot is falsely bitching about.
What a fucking doofus moron! The E.U. has the Turd over a barrel -- they are not going to respond favorably to the Turd's bullshit "threats."
You can take it to the bank that the E.U. has an entirely different perspective on these insane tariffs than that of the "fucking mornon" who is advocating them. Tough days ahead for you, Turd, as your already failed Presidency continues to sink in the toilet you created!
By the way, Turd, Xi Jinping is watching and laughing -- and so is everyone else in the world.
SomedayKindaLove
(1,142 posts)Make it so each of your “opponents” has to negotiate a tariff deal while you have to negotiate 200.
And be po sure to put a deadline on it! That way everyone can wait you out to the end.
He's already shown multiple times that he will wilt and take down the tariffs if the pressure gets too high. This week we're going to see the US bond market plummet even further and we'll see the stock market do the same. All the EU needs to do is wait it out and mouth a few phrases about turning toward India, China and the Pacific rim to take up the slack in buying EU goods.
Trump is a weak weak negotiator. In the end he'll be lucky to get trade deals that are the same as what we had before he came into office.
Lucky Luciano
(11,670 posts)Emile
(35,887 posts)And they still believe him.
Hekate
(98,530 posts)Mysterian
(5,766 posts)There will be no future for the USA until all perpetrators of crimes under cloak of the Trump regime are prosecuted and jailed.
Iamscrewed
(486 posts)Here is everyone's late clue to the next insider trading tip of the week/days or ?
stillcool
(34,385 posts)requiring Trump kiss every single one. What a wonderful world that would be.
Prairie Gates
(5,648 posts)Doodley
(11,179 posts)Trump is smarter than a typical five year old, both intellectually and emotionally, I'm yet to see it.
kysrsoze
(6,341 posts)This will be the third time they've pulled this crap. I'm sure Rump tipped off all his buddies on what he was going to do so they had time to dump their stocks.
usaf-vet
(7,603 posts)First, watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and his interview with Patrick McGee, author of "Apple In China".
A very informative interview and book.
It boils down to the 3 million people Apple has paid to train (over the last 20+ years) to build their products.
Initech
(105,632 posts)
Owens
(541 posts)This sounds like they don't, and now adding 50% is gonna make them come crawling? Worst deal maker ever
Golden Raisin
(4,722 posts)flush down the Golden Toilet.
louis-t
(24,408 posts)Krasnov is a jerk.
Evolve Dammit
(20,997 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(125,876 posts)Initech
(105,632 posts)And putting the adults back in charge. If MAGA wants to go blab on the Fox gossip channel, they can do so without ruining the country.
OverBurn
(1,251 posts)SunSeeker
(56,151 posts)
LetMyPeopleVote
(166,212 posts)
DallasNE
(7,823 posts)One of the jobs a President does is to try and reassure jittery morkets. So what does Trump Do?
On Thursday the bond market jitters was over the Moody's downgrade of American debt and that bleed over into the stock market, which fell 800 points.
On Friday the markets seemed calm after Thursdays news until Trump announced 50% tariffs on Europe, effective June 1st. That sent the stock market into another 500 point drop, cutting short the 90-day tariff postponement announced in around April 2nd.
What ignorant fool acts in such a reckless manner? Was this just to set up another insider trading opportunity? Regardless, it is stupid on steroids.
Javaman
(64,244 posts)the orange ignoramus can't think out side of smashing things
Tarzanrock
(1,187 posts)I was told that more than 90 countries were "lining up," one right after the other, to make "deals" with the old "Dealmaker" himself. I now think that all those 90 countries told Old Yellow Pisswig to go fuck his fist. Yep, the E.U. can be "difficult" when you are an asshole, right, lying Dipshit Donnie?
sakabatou
(45,074 posts)Karasu
(1,591 posts)kerouac2
(1,206 posts)Then he will change his mind... And billions will be made.
Rinse and repeat
Wingus Dingus
(9,173 posts)Who can even keep up anymore?
ananda
(32,566 posts)they have formed their own trade partnerships.
IOW, they said: fuck the USA!
Fil1957
(130 posts)agreement with Greenland, and to manipulate the stock market. If he keeps doing stuff like this, we could end up in a full scale depression in about 6 months. How bad does it have to get before it's 25th amendment time?
hay rick
(8,879 posts)Wouldn't want all the outrage focused on the budget bill or dismemberment of the rule of law...
Jacson6
(1,416 posts)Tariffs are good for President Chaos and his ego.
SHEESH!
delisen
(7,108 posts)We just signed a mineral deal with Greenland, smirked the Europeans.