United States President Donald Trump issued fresh tariff threats in letters to the European Union and Mexico over the weekend, demanding compliance with American trade demand by 1 August or face a 30% levy on all imports.
Trump's latest move came through direct correspondence with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, with both letters posted on his Truth Social platform over the weekend.
The messaging to Mexico carried a pointed critique of its border cooperation, saying “Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough,” linking trade policy directly to immigration enforcement.
For Brussels, Trump offered a conditional reprieve, stating the E.U. would avoid tariffs if the 27-member bloc "or companies within the E.U., decide to build or manufacture the product[s] within the United States."
Von der Leyen reacted with a statement that said imposing 30% tariffs on E.U. exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains “to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Trump's correspondence contained the same escalation mechanism as in previous letters to other nations.
Should either the E.U. or Mexico respond with higher tariffs, ”then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added on to the 30% that we charge".
The E.U. and Mexico letters form part of a coordinated assault on international trade arrangements - as Trump sent similar letters to 23 other trading partners last week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil with proposed tariff rates spanning from 20-50%.
Trump's tariff authority faces a critical test on 31 July when the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments that could invalidate all tariffs imposed since April. The case stems from a lower court ruling in May that found Trump exceeded his presidential powers under emergency legislation.