In two nearly identical letters dated July 11, 2025, President Donald J. Trump informed Mexico’s President‑elect Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that, effective August 1, 2025, the United States will impose a 30 percent tariff on “all” Mexican‑ and EU‑origin products entering the country citing the measure as a response to national‑security concerns and long‑standing trade imbalances.
ADDITIONAL 30% TARIFF FOR MEXICO AND EUROPEAN UNION
- Universal scope– The 30% rate applies in addition to any sector‑specific duties already in force (e.g., Section 232 steel/aluminum or Section 301 lists).
- Trans‑shipment clause– Goods routed through third countries to evade higher Tariffs will be re‑rated at the higher level.
- Retaliation trigger– Should Mexico or the EU raise tariffs in response, Washington will add the same percentage on top of the 30 % base rate.
- Path to downward adjustment–
- Mexico: Reduction is tied to challenging the cartels and stopping the flow of fentanyl.
- EU: Reduction depends on eliminating tariff and non‑tariff barriers and open market access for U.S. exporters.
- Both letters reserve the right to raise or lower the tariff depending on “our relationship with your Country.”
- On‑shoring incentive– Firms that build or manufacture product within the United States are promised fast‑track approvals in a matter of weeks, implying zero duty on goods produced domestically.
LETTERS, NOT PROCLAMATIONS
The letters are policy notices, not formal implementing proclamations. Crucial operational details—HTS annotations, possible product‑exclusion processes, and Customs guidance—have not yet appeared in the Federal Register or CBP Cargo Systems Messaging Service (CSMS). Until those documents publish, brokers and compliance teams should treat the 30% rate as broadly applicable and plan for potential retroactive assessments.
U.S. LETTER TO MEXICO
U.S. LETTER TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
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