Payam Javan: President Donald Trump announced on May 23 that the United States will impose a 50% tariff on European Union imports starting June 1, escalating trade tensions. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused the EU of being formed to exploit the U.S. on trade and described negotiations as unproductive, prompting the new tariff measure.

The tariff will not apply to products manufactured in the United States, Trump clarified. The move follows his claims that the EU has been “very difficult to deal with” in trade discussions, signaling a significant shift in U.S.-EU economic relations.