Through an interview with CNBC, the President of the United States Donald Trump threatened today (5.8.2025) that it will impose duty 35% in European Union products if the Union does not comply with the obligations of the recent trade agreement with its country, while heralded duties on US -imported drugs.
Specifically, Donald Trump threatened to impose 35% on the EU if Brussels did not comply with their commitment to invest $ 600 billion in US infrastructure. “Well, then they will pay 35% duties“, Trump told CNBC on Tuesday, when asked what measures would take if the EU does not comply with the EU and US trade agreement.
“They reduced their duties. Paid $ 600 billion. And that’s why I reduced their own from 30% to 15%, “Trump said. “And some countries came and said, ‘Why does the EU pay less than us?’ And I told them: Why They gave me $ 600 billion. And this is a gift not a loan, so you know it. ” Trump added: “We were given 600 billion, which we can invest where we want. I can use them as I want. We were exploited for so many years that it was time to pay. And they have to pay. We could not continue with such deficits. ”
At the same time, Trump told CNBC that scheduled duties for the medicinal products imported into the US could eventually reach up to 250%, the highest percentage that has threatened so far. He said he would initially impose a “small duty” on medicines, but then, in one to one and a half years “at most”, will increase this percentage to 150% and then to 250%.
The Republican has repeatedly threatened and then changed the course on duties, so there is no guarantee that it will eventually set duties 250% on medicinal products. In early July, Trump had threatened 200% on medicinal products.
The Trump government launched a survey under Article 232 on pharmaceuticals in April. It is a legal power that allows the Minister of Commerce to investigate the impact of imports on national security.
Duties are the president’s attempt to encourage pharmaceutical companies to transfer their productive activities to the US, at a time when domestic drug production has shrunk dramatically in recent decades. In the last six months, companies such as Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson have announced new investments in the US to win the president’s favor.
‘We want medicines to be produced in our country’Trump told CNBC.