30% رسوم جمركية على أوروبا والمكسيك.. هل تنجح المفاوضات في تجنّب الأزمة؟

The European Union and Mexico, two of the largest trading partners of the United States, responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 30% tariff on goods imported from them starting August 1, 2025, describing the measure as unfair and confusing.

According to Reuters, both parties pledged to continue negotiations with Washington to reach a comprehensive trade agreement before the deadline.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed optimism about reaching an agreement, stating during an event in Sonora: "In such cases, we must maintain our composure to face any challenge."

She added: "We have a clear vision of what we can cooperate on with the United States, and what we cannot negotiate on, and there is one thing that can never be compromised, which is the sovereignty of our country."

For his part, Trump sent similar messages to 23 other trading partners, including Canada, Japan, and Brazil, specifying tariffs ranging from 20% to 50%, in addition to a 50% tariff on copper.

He clarified that the 30% tariff is separate from sector-specific tariffs, as the fees on steel and aluminum remain at 50% and on cars at 25%.

The August 1 deadline gives the targeted countries a chance to negotiate agreements that could reduce these tariffs.

Some investors and economists noted that Trump might backtrack on his threats as he has done before, having announced similar tariffs in April that affected markets before his administration delayed their implementation.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the new tariffs would negatively impact transatlantic supply chains, harming businesses, consumers, and patients on both sides.

She added that the European Union will continue to seek a comprehensive trade agreement but is prepared to take proportional measures to protect its interests if necessary.

In Mexico, the Ministry of Economy expressed its dissatisfaction with the tariffs, describing them as unfair treatment during a meeting with U.S. officials.

It is worth noting that the tariff imposed on Mexico (30%) is lower than that on Canada (35%), despite Trump's accusations against Mexico of not adequately controlling drug trafficking, including fentanyl, most of which government data shows comes across the Mexican border rather than the Canadian one.

Mexico is the largest trading partner of the United States in 2023, sending more than 80% of its exports to the U.S.

At the same time, the European Union is seeking a comprehensive trade agreement but has recently scaled back its ambitions to a general framework similar to what was reached with Britain.

The negotiations face varying pressures within the Union, as Germany urges a swift agreement to protect its industry, while countries like France refuse to submit to unilateral U.S. conditions.

Bernd Lange, the chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, stated: "These tariffs are a slap in the face for negotiations, and they are not a way to deal with a major trading partner."

Experts indicated that this move could provoke retaliatory responses from the European Union, similar to what occurred during the trade tensions between the United States and China.

The new tariffs generate monthly revenues estimated in the tens of billions of dollars for the U.S. Treasury, with customs revenues exceeding $100 billion in the fiscal year up to June, according to Treasury data.

However, these policies have increased diplomatic tensions with U.S. allies, as Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed the need to reduce reliance on Washington, while Canada and some European countries have begun reassessing their security dependence on the United States.