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Zhao Ziwen

US President Donald Trump threatened sweeping 50 per cent tariffs on the European Union starting June 1, citing a breakdown in trade talks with the bloc, and simultaneously took aim at Apple, warning of a 25 per cent levy on iPhones made outside the US.
The moves hit stock markets hard, with the S&P 500 shedding 0.67 per cent and Apple down 3.02 per cent at the close amid a broad downturn in European markets.
Trump on Friday took to social media to explain his targeting of Apple.
“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,” Trump wrote, referring to the tech giant’s CEO.
“If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25 per cent must be paid by Apple to the US.”
Friday’s double-barrelled announcement underscored Trump’s ongoing campaign against major US trading partners.


“The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with,” he added.
The US president slammed the bloc’s “Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more”.
On April 2, when Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs, the EU was hit by 20 per cent levies that were later scaled back to 10 per cent.
Later on Friday at a White House press briefing, Trump described the political bloc of 27 countries as having been formed “to hurt the United States”.
“They sell millions and millions of cars, as you know, Mercedes and BMW and Volkswagen and many others,” the president added. “And we, we were restricted from, essentially restricted from selling cars into the European Union, which is not nice.”
“They’ve taken advantage of other people representing this country, and they’re not going to do that any longer.”
Trump suggested he was not seeking to negotiate a new deal with Brussels, saying: “I’m not looking for a deal, we’ve set a deal. It’s at 50 per cent.”
But he advised that tariffs could be avoided if European companies, especially carmakers, invested in manufacturing in the US. “There is no tariff if they build their plant here.”
Similarly, Trump on Friday said Apple could only escape tariffs if the company manufactured in America.
The president described Cook as telling him Apple would be “going to India to build plants” and responding, “that’s OK to go to India, but you’re not going to sell into here without tariffs”.
Meanwhile, Trump’s tariff assault contrasts with China’s recent charm offensive directed at the EU as the Asian economic giant seeks to deepen engagement with the bloc’s member states.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi in recent days has held talks with his counterparts from the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Denmark amid appeals for stronger China-EU links, a unified opposition to protectionism and a reaffirmation of the one-China principle.
And in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts to tackle global challenges. Macron, for his part, cited a need for fair bilateral competition, highlighting in particular concerns over Chinese export restrictions on French cognac.
Trump’s latest move reflects his reported impatience with a lack of progress and dramatic “wins” in trade talks with the EU, which has insisted on cutting tariffs to zero as the president has publicly called for preserving a baseline 10 per cent tax on most imports.
“Our discussions with them are going nowhere!” Trump posted on social media, referring to the EU.
“Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50 per cent Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025. There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States.”
In 2024, US trade in goods with the EU totalled US$975.9 billion for an American deficit of US$235.6 billion, while last year US goods trade with China stood at US$582.4 billion with a US deficit of US$295 billion, according to US government statistics.
The US maintains a smaller surplus in services with both trading areas.
As for Apple, Trump voiced frustration with the high-profile tech company and its CEO. Of the more than 60 million iPhones sold annually in the US, an estimated 80 to 90 per cent are manufactured in China, with the rest made in India and Vietnam.
It is not clear whether the administration can lawfully impose a tariff on a single company.
The threat comes despite a fragile truce between Trump and Apple. On April 12, Trump announced exemptions on smartphones, computers and some other electronic devices from “reciprocal” tariffs, including the then-125 per cent levies put on Chinese imports.

Apple aims to make most of its iPhones sold in the US at factories in India by the end of 2026, and the company is speeding up those plans to navigate potentially higher tariffs in China, its main manufacturing base.
The tech giant has said that, beginning in the June quarter, most US-bound iPhones will originate from India, part of a broader strategy to insulate itself from US-China tensions.
While estimates vary, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives wrote earlier this year that making iPhones in the US could raise their price tag to US$3,500 from US$1,000.
Apple now joins Amazon, Walmart and other major US companies in the White House’s crosshairs as they try to respond to the uncertainty and inflationary pressures unleashed by the Trump administration’s tariffs.
Trump’s threats against Apple and the EU came after Washington and Beijing concluded a deal on tariffs in Geneva earlier this month that significantly dropped the levies on both sides.
As part of the outcome, Washington reduced additional tariffs to 30 per cent and Beijing to 10 per cent.
But most of America’s traditional allies – including the EU, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan – have yet to reach trade agreements with Washington.
While talks with the EU have stalled, Japan is preparing for a fourth round of negotiations, with chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa set to visit the US on May 30.
The fitful progress has illustrated the complexity of hammering out trade deals despite Trump’s earlier claim that he would conclude “90 deals in 90 days”.
Additional reporting by Reuters and AP


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United States

Trump threatens EU with 50% tariffs over breakdown in talks as Apple stares at 25%

US President Donald Trump’s double-barrelled announcement highlighted his ongoing campaign against major American trading partners. Photo: AP

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) shakes hands with visiting Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen before their bilateral meeting in Beijing on Monday. Photo: Xinhua via AP

Apple, led by its CEO Tim Cook, makes the vast majority of its iPhones sold in the US in China. Photo: AFP

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Ambassadors to China meet in Beijing to discuss reform of international systems. Photo: X / @ ccg_org

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Zhang Jun, former Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, speaks on Thursday at a forum held by the Centre for China and Globalisation in Beijing. Photo: Handout

If China wants the EU as a partner, it must offer concrete cooperation

Illustration: Craig Stephens

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at the European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Albania, on May 16, has reset relations with Britain under Prime Minister Keir Starmer and said there was space to deepen trade ties with China. Photo: PA Wire/dpa

China delivers strong words to EU over proposed small parcel fees

An influx of small parcels from China has led to the US and EU evaluating their tax and fee exemptions for low-value shipments. Photo: Jelly Tse

An influx of small parcels from China has led to the US and EU evaluating their tax and fee exemptions for low-value shipments. Photo: Getty Images

Removing US tariffs would ‘kneecap’ president amid China trade talks: Trump team in court

The Donald Trump administration has argued that the US president’s emergency declarations were not subject to judicial review because the matter is a “political question” and only the US Congress could intervene. Photo: Reuters

The Trump administration cited fentanyl precursors, pictured here, as a basis for ordering higher tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada this year. Photo: Reuters

As multiple lawsuits challenging the tariffs proceed through the US legal system, it is unclear whether any of the cases will reach America’s highest judicial body, the Supreme Court, in Washington. Photo: AFP

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Sweeping levies targeting bloc would start June 1 as China continues charm offensive across continent to deepen engagement


Sweeping levies targeting bloc would start June 1 as China continues charm offensive across continent to deepen engagement.


Trump threatens EU with 50% tariffs over breakdown in talks as Apple stares at 25%

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Sweeping levies targeting bloc would start June 1 as China continues charm offensive across continent to deepen engagement

Sweeping levies targeting bloc would start June 1 as China continues charm offensive across continent to deepen engagement