logo
Trump says Mexico, EU to face 30% tariff from Aug 1

Trump says Mexico, EU to face 30% tariff from Aug 1

LeMonde3 days ago
President Donald Trump on Saturday, July 12 said major US trading partners Mexico and the European Union would face a 30% tariff starting next month, ramping up pressure for deals in his trade wars. Both sets of duties would take effect August 1, Trump said in separate letters posted to his Truth Social platform, citing Mexico's role in illicit drugs flowing into the United States and a trade imbalance with the EU respectively.
The duties are higher than the 25% levy Trump imposed on Mexican goods earlier this year, although products entering the US under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement are exempted. Canada earlier received a similar letter setting out 35% tariffs on its goods. The EU tariff is also markedly steeper than the 20% levy Trump unveiled in April, as negotiations with the bloc continue.
The EU, alongside dozens of other economies, had been set to see its US tariff level increase from a baseline of 10% on Wednesday, but Trump pushed back the deadline to August 1 just days before the elevated rates were due to take effect. Since the start of the week, Trump has sent out letters to more than 20 countries with updated tariffs for each.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump UN envoy pick chastised for discussing bombing on Signal
Trump UN envoy pick chastised for discussing bombing on Signal

France 24

timean hour ago

  • France 24

Trump UN envoy pick chastised for discussing bombing on Signal

The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine said in March that Waltz had mistakenly added him to a chat among top US officials on commercial messaging app Signal about the imminent US bombing of Yemen. Senator Cory Booker of the rival Democratic Party accused Waltz of deliberately maligning the journalist by falsely saying that he infiltrated the group. "I've seen you not only fail to stand up, but lie," Booker told Waltz. "I have nothing but deep disappointment in what I consider a failure of leadership on your part," Booker told Waltz. Waltz pointed to guidance under former president Joe Biden that allowed the use of Signal, which is encrypted, and said the White House has not taken disciplinary action. "The use of Signal was not only authorized, it's still authorized and highly recommended," Waltz said, while insisting the chat did not exchange "classified" information. Senator Chris Coons, another Democrat, was incredulous over his explanation and voiced alarm that the White House has not taken any corrective action. "You were sharing details about an upcoming airstrike -- the time of launch and the potential targets. I mean, this was demonstrably sensitive information." Waltz, a former congressman and special forces officer, survived little more than three months as national security advisor before Trump on May 1 replaced him with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is juggling both jobs. Waltz did not deny he has kept taking his salary, saying he was not "fired" and still served as "an advisor." Senator Jacky Rosen, raising the salary issue, contrasted Waltz's actions with his vow to "root out waste and unnecessary overhead at the UN." Trump has aggressively cut US assistance overseas and pulled the United States out of several UN-backed bodies. Waltz vowed to press for reforms at the United Nations, accusing it of "anti-Semitism" and "radical politicization" for criticisms of Israel and the United States, even though the United States is the organization's largest funder. The United Nations, he said, has "drifted from its core mission of peacemaking." "The UN's overall revenue has quadrupled in the last 20 years, yet I would argue we have not seen a quadrupling of world peace," Waltz said.

French PM proposes slashing two public holidays to reduce deficit
French PM proposes slashing two public holidays to reduce deficit

Euronews

timean hour ago

  • Euronews

French PM proposes slashing two public holidays to reduce deficit

France's Prime Minister François Bayrou has outlined plans to cut €43.8 billion from the national budget, warning that debt presents a "mortal danger" for the country. The cuts involve reducing the number of people employed in the civil service and a so-called "solidarity contribution" for "the wealthiest", as well as scrapping tax breaks for business expenses for pensioners. He also proposed getting rid of two public holidays, citing Easter Monday and 8 May as possible contenders to be scrapped. Bayrou said that would make it possible to increase productivity without raising taxes or VAT. May 8 has historical significance in France and across Europe as it marks the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945 and the end of World War II in Europe. "It's the last stop before the cliff, before we are crushed by the debt," Bayrou told MPs, saying that debt is increasing by €5,000 every second. "It's late but there is still time," he added. He said the French shouldn't forget the financial woes Greece experienced more than a decade ago when it went through a full-blown debt crisis and needed multiple international bailout packages and years of austerity to get back on its feet. France's public deficit hit 5.8% of GDP in 2024, totalling €168.6 billion, a figure well above the maximum allowed by EU rules. In his announcement, Bayrou outlined significant budget cuts with the aim of slashing tens of billions of euros, aiming to bring the deficit down to 5.4% of GDP this year and 4.6% in 2026. He is hoping the cuts will bring the deficit to below the 3% threshold set by the EU by 2029. President Emmanuel Macron has tasked his prime minister with repairing public finances with the 2026 budget after the snap election he called last year resulted in a hung parliament too divided to tackle spiralling spending. Following the recommendations of Macron and citing the situation in both Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific region, Bayrou said no cuts would be made on national defence spending. €3.5 billion will be included in the 2026 budget, with a further €3 billion in 2027.

EU delays measures against Israel on Gaza despite pressure to act
EU delays measures against Israel on Gaza despite pressure to act

Euronews

timean hour ago

  • Euronews

EU delays measures against Israel on Gaza despite pressure to act

The EU will not 'punish' Israel for its actions in Gaza and will 'keep a close watch' on the country's implementation of a recent agreement to improve the flow of aid in the strip, the bloc's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said in a press conference following a meeting of the EU's 27 ministers in Brussels. The ministers were in Brussels to discuss an EU-Israel agreement brokered last week to increase the number of trucks and distribution of food entering Gaza as well as the opening of several other crossing points. They also examined an exhaustive list of 10 options, including the suspension of visa-free travel and the blocking of imports from the Jewish settlements, in response to Israel's breach of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. 'Israel needs to take more concrete steps to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground,' Kallas told reporters, adding that Israel had already improved access and supplies of aid to Gaza. "The EU will keep a close watch on how Israel implements this common understanding and the pledges." 'The aim is not to punish Israel, the aim is to improve the situation in Gaza,' Kallas added. The bloc's ambassadors will be tasked to update Israel's compliance of the agreement every two weeks, Kallas said, and the EU would keep the 10 options 'on the table' and 'stand ready to act if Israel does not live up to its pledges'. Last week, the Israeli military admitted a "technical error" following a strike that reportedly killed 10 people, including six children, near a Gaza water distribution point. Some ministers expressed frustration at the lack of action against Israel. Following Tuesday's meeting, Slovenian foreign minister Tanja Fajon wrote on X that she regretted there hadn't been 'any consensus' during the meeting to follow up on the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. She added that an "agreement in principle" on improving humanitarian aid 'can't be used as an excuse to inaction'. 'We all have a responsibility to protect civilians,' she added. Prior to the meeting on Tuesday, some ministers had also sent clear signs that they wanted to take concrete measures against Israel. Spain's foreign affairs minister José Manuel Albares told reporters that in accordance with EU and international norms, his country would push for a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, an arms embargo to Israel and the ban of products from the Jewish settlements. 'This war needs to end, and the Israeli army needs to withdraw,' Albares said. His French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot also said France would be ready to take sanctions targeted at 'individuals and entities that are responsible for the extremist and violent colonisation' in the West Bank and to 'stop any direct and indirect financial support to the colonisation'.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store