Concerns about Trump's higher import duties: 'Harmful'

The United States wants to impose a 30 percent tariff on imported goods from the European Union. The European Commission, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and affected industries, among others, have responded to the announcement. "It's worrying and not the way forward."

This will happen on August 1st, US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social. The levy is higher than the 20 percent tariff announced in April. Should the EU decide to raise its own tariffs on the import of US goods, this increase will be added to the 30 percent, he wrote.

With his announcement, Trump appears to want to increase pressure on the EU to reach a trade deal. This week, there was optimism from Brussels, which expected an agreement to be reached within a few days.

Meanwhile, the EU and the US have tried to reach an agreement. These negotiations have been difficult. In May, Trump threatened the EU with a 50 percent tariff. A few days later, on the same platform, he praised the EU's haste in the talks. The European Commission has always emphasized its desire to reach a deal with the US.

The European Commission has been informed of Trump's intentions, a spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed. It is not yet known whether the European Commission will immediately take countermeasures. A long list of American products on which the EU can impose higher import tariffs is already available. EU trade ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, says she is prepared to continue negotiating trade tariffs with the United States. She reiterated that the European Commission "will take all necessary measures to protect the EU's interests, including taking proportionate countermeasures if necessary."

Imposing 30 percent tariffs on EU exports "would disrupt vital transatlantic supply chains, harming businesses, consumers, and patients on both sides of the Atlantic," von der Leyen said in a statement. "The EU has consistently prioritized a negotiated solution with the US, reflecting our commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership."

Caretaker Prime Minister Dick Schoof calls the announced import duties by the United States on products from the EU "worrying and not the way forward."

The Netherlands supports the European Union's efforts, says the non-partisan prime minister. "The European Commission can count on our full support; as the EU, we must continue to work unitedly and resolutely towards trade agreements with the United States that are in our mutual interest."

Hanneke Boerma, State Secretary for Foreign Trade, also responded to X. She reiterated Schoof's message and added that "businesses on both sides of the ocean benefit from predictability and lower rather than higher tariffs". In her view, the European Commission should keep all options on the table in the negotiations with the US.

The announced 30 percent import duty on products from the European Union is "extremely damaging to the Dutch manufacturing industry," said a spokesperson for the trade association for the Dutch technology industry FME.

FME hopes the EU and the US will still reach an agreement. "This uncertainty does not contribute to the stability of the Dutch technology industry," the spokesperson emphasized.

The port will also feel the impact of the introduction. Shippers in the Port of Rotterdam will be particularly affected by the consequences of import duties from the US, a port spokesperson said. US import duties generally impact the volumes handled in the Port of Rotterdam, but particularly the parties that commission goods and products to be transported, the spokesperson added.

She reports that the US is the fourth-largest export partner for goods produced in the Netherlands. This makes the trade relationship important for the Netherlands. "But certainly also for other European countries, because a large portion of exports goes through the Port of Rotterdam."

“Ultimately, no one benefits from a potential trade war and the US remains an important trading partner,” said the spokeswoman, who indicated that she was closely monitoring the situation.

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Trump announces even higher import duties for EU