U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday proposed sweeping new tariffs on European Union (EU) imports, further intensifying a growing trade war that could ripple through global markets, including Africa.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump announced he is “recommending” a 50% import tariff on all EU goods entering the United States, citing stalled negotiations and what he called unfair trade practices by the bloc.
“Our discussions with them are going nowhere!” Trump posted. “Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025.”
He accused the EU of maintaining “powerful Trade Barriers, VAT Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American companies,” which he claims contribute to a U.S. trade deficit of more than $250 billion annually.
The proposed tariff follows an earlier 20% blanket tax on all U.S. exports to the EU, a move that already strained economic ties between the world’s largest trading partners.
iPhones Also Targeted
Trump also threatened to impose a 25% import tax on iPhones and other electronic devices not manufactured within the United States. While no direct link to Ghana was mentioned, analysts say such moves could have far-reaching consequences for global supply chains, investment decisions, and technology markets in emerging economies like Ghana.
Potential Impact on Ghana
While Ghana does not trade directly at scale with the U.S. or EU in the same categories targeted by the tariffs, the country could feel the impact indirectly.
Increased trade tensions between major economies tend to affect global commodity prices, investor confidence, and foreign aid flows.
Ghanaian exporters, especially those in the cocoa and technology accessory markets, may face higher costs or demand shifts if global prices fluctuate as a result.
“The move creates instability in global trade that developing nations like Ghana often suffer from the most,” said a local economist from the University of Ghana.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
