On the 26th, U.S. President Trump said that the U.S. has decided to impose a 25% tariff on the European Union and will announce this “soon.”

Speaking to the media during a cabinet meeting at the White House that day, Trump said that, overall, the EU’s tariff rates would be set at 25%, applicable to automobiles and various other goods.

Trump also claimed that the EU “takes advantage of the U.S.” by “refusing to accept U.S. cars and agricultural products” under various pretexts, and that there is a trade deficit of roughly “300 billion U.S. dollars” between the U.S. and the EU.

Earlier, the U.S. political news website Politico reported that the U.S.-EU trade deficit is not as large as Trump claimed. According to EU data, in 2023, the U.S. had a goods trade deficit of 155.8 billion euros (about 168.6 billion U.S. dollars) with the EU. However, in the services trade, the U.S. enjoyed a surplus of 104 billion euros (about 112.6 billion U.S. dollars). Overall, the U.S. trade deficit with the EU was 51.8 billion euros (about 56 billion U.S. dollars).

When asked whether he would continue to temporarily suspend the additional tariffs imposed on Mexico and Canada in light of progress in border controls, Trump said he would not block the tariffs from taking effect—rather, the U.S. would impose a 25% tariff on both Mexico and Canada.

In addition, U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick said at the meeting that the overall tariff measures targeting various countries will take effect on April 2.

On February 1, Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on products imported from Mexico and Canada, with the tariff increase on Canadian energy products set at 10%. On the 3rd, Trump announced that the implementation of these additional tariffs on both countries would be postponed for 30 days, while negotiations would continue. According to this decision, the relevant additional tariffs will take effect on March 4. On the 24th, Trump stated that the plan to impose additional tariffs on Mexico and Canada would “proceed as scheduled.” Additionally, on the 13th, Trump signed a memorandum instructing relevant departments to determine “reciprocal tariffs” with each foreign trading partner.