OAN Staff Jenna Lee
3:12 PM – Friday, May 1, 2026
President Donald Trump escalated trade tensions with Brussels on Friday by announcing a 25% tariff increase on cars and trucks imported from the European Union (EU).
Brussels is the de facto capital of the EU. In a statement posted to Truth Social, the president justified the move by arguing that the EU has failed to comply with the terms of their established trade agreement.
This hike effectively dismantles the 15% tariff ceiling previously set under the 2025 Turnberry Agreement, marking a return to a more aggressive “America First” trade posture.
While vehicles manufactured by European brands at U.S.-based plants remain exempt, the industry anticipates immediate price volatility and a renewed push from the administration for foreign automakers to shift more production onto American soil.
“I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States. The Tariff will be increased to 25%. It is fully understood and agreed that, if they produce Cars and Trucks in U.S.A. Plants, there will be NO TARIFF.”
“We will keep our options open to protect EU interests,” responded the European Commission. The Commission also stated that the EU was looking for “clarity” from the U.S. around its commitments while adhering to its commitments.
The Turnberry Agreement, reached in Scotland in July last year, originally established a 15% tariff ceiling on most European goods in exchange for significant concessions from the EU.
Under the terms of that framework, Brussels pledged to eliminate duties on U.S. industrial goods — including automobiles — and agreed to adopt U.S. safety and emissions standards for vehicles. However, despite the EU advancing implementation legislation this past March, final approval is not expected until June.
This legislative timeline appears to have triggered the president’s latest move, as the administration argues the delay constitutes non-compliance.
In response, Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament’s trade committee, condemned the 25% tariff announcement as “unacceptable,” arguing that the United States has proven to be an unreliable partner by repeatedly breaching the existing agreement.
“President Trump’s behaviour is unacceptable. This latest move demonstrates just how unreliable the US side is. We have already witnessed these arbitrary attacks from the US in the case of Greenland; this is no way to treat close partners,” responded Lange.
The president threatened to annex Greenland, the self-governing Danish territory. However, the European Parliament denied the approval of the trade deal in January.
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