Donald Trump has ripped into his own tariff deal with the European Union and thrown transatlantic trade back into conflict with a sudden decision to raise duties on EU cars and lorries.

The US president said he would scrap part of the agreement he struck with EU leaders in Scotland last summer, arguing that Brussels failed to move fast enough to ratify it. He then announced that tariffs on cars and lorries imported from the EU would jump from 15% to 25% from next week, according to reports. The timing caught Brussels off guard, with the move landing late on a May Day holiday and leaving European officials scrambling to assess the fallout.

Trump is not just revising a tariff schedule; he is testing how much pressure the US can put on Europe before trade friction turns into a broader political rupture.

Key Facts

  • Trump says he is tearing up part of the tariff deal reached with EU leaders last summer.
  • US tariffs on EU cars and lorries will rise from 15% to 25% from next week.
  • He accuses the European Union of failing to comply and taking too long to ratify the agreement.
  • The announcement reportedly blindsided Brussels during the May Day holiday period.

The increase targets one of Europe’s most politically sensitive export sectors. Cars and commercial vehicles sit at the center of industrial strategy, jobs, and national prestige across the bloc. By hitting that sector harder, Trump gains leverage quickly and forces EU leaders to decide whether to retaliate, negotiate, or absorb the blow. Reports indicate his message goes beyond customs policy: he wants faster concessions and a clearer demonstration that Europe will honor terms on Washington’s timetable.

That sets up a tense new phase in US-EU relations. If the increase takes effect as announced, manufacturers, exporters, and dealers on both sides of the Atlantic will start recalculating costs almost immediately. Consumers could feel the impact through higher prices or tighter supply, while officials in Brussels may weigh legal, diplomatic, or retaliatory options. The next few days matter because they will show whether this shock move becomes another bargaining tactic or the start of a wider trade breakdown.