Donald Trump, the United States’ ruler, has announced new tariffs on both Mexico and the European Union. Trump said that these tariffs will go into effect starting on August 1st.

The U.S. will impose a 30% tariff on all imports from Mexico and the European Union (EU), citing national security and trade imbalances. Mexico’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the tariff threat was discussed during a July 11 meeting, describing the proposal as “unfair”; however, it also stated that negotiations with the U.S. are ongoing.

“We mentioned at the meeting that this was an unfair deal and that we disagreed,” the ministry said, adding that the Mexican government is already in active negotiations with the U.S. and is seeking to avoid the punitive measures.

In a letter addressed to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform on Saturday, July 12, the president said the tariffs are a response to Mexico’s failure to stop drug cartels from trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States.

“Despite our strong relationship, you will recall, the United States imposed Tariffs on Mexico to deal with our Nation’s Fentanyl crisis, which is caused, in part, by Mexico’s failure to stop the Cartels, who are made up of the most despicable people who ever walked the Earth, from pouring these drugs into our country,” Trump wrote in the letter.

“Mexico has been helping me secure the border, but what Mexico has done is not enough. Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels, who are trying to turn all of North America into a narco-trafficking playground. Obviously, I cannot let that happen! Starting August 1st, 2025, we will charge Mexico a Tariff of 30 percent on Mexican products sent into the United States,” the president said, according to a report by Natural News. 

Trump also sent a similar letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to balance one of the U.S.’s “largest trade deficits.”

“A 30 percent tariff on EU exports would hurt businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic. We will continue working towards an agreement by August 1. At the same time, we are ready to safeguard EU interests on the basis of proportionate countermeasures,” von der Leyen posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Trade War, Tariffs Driving Economic Uncertainty