President Trump made a bold announcement Friday: a 50% tariff on European Union imports will take effect June 1, after what he described as months of fruitless discussions with EU officials. “I’m not looking for a deal,” Trump said bluntly.
Apple was directly mentioned, with Trump threatening to impose a 25% tariff on iPhones unless the company shifts manufacturing back to the U.S. “It’s fine to build in India,” he said, “but if you want to sell here, you’ll pay.”
Despite internal hopes from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that the threat would force the EU back to the negotiating table, Trump’s disinterest in a diplomatic solution marks a significant hardening of the U.S. stance. More tariffs are expected to follow across industries.