Fact check: Are Donald Trump's tariffs on the EU really reciprocal?

[BLMFem]

Answer; not even close.

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/04/03/fact-check-are-donald-trumps-tariffs-on-the-eu-really-reciprocal

 

"It is not factually correct to say that the European Union imposes tariffs of 39% on the US. On the contrary, it's a nearer 3%," Andrew Kenningham, Chief Europe Economist at Capital Economics, told Euronews, putting the rate somewhere in between the Commission's and WTO's estimations.

The US administration, however, points to an unfair "asymmetry" in certain tariff rates. For example, the EU applies a 10% tariff on US car imports, while the US charges just 2.5%.

Brussels says, however, that this fails to consider the fact that the US imposes a 25% tariff on EU-made pickup trucks, which are a favourite among US consumers and account for "about one third of all vehicle sales".

[spidermike007]

The metrics that Trump and his band of goons are using are beyond inane, completely unscientific, and wouldn't pass a very simple Junior High School math test. 

 

He does appear to be hellbent on destroying the US and the world economy, why that is is certainly open to speculation. 

 

 

[candide]

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The metrics that Trump and his band of goons are using are beyond inane, completely unscientific, and wouldn't pass a very simple Junior High School math test. 

 

He does appear to be hellbent on destroying the US and the world economy, why that is is certainly open to speculation. 

 

 

Well, it works with MAGA fans

[candide]

28 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

Answer; not even close.

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/04/03/fact-check-are-donald-trumps-tariffs-on-the-eu-really-reciprocal

 

"It is not factually correct to say that the European Union imposes tariffs of 39% on the US. On the contrary, it's a nearer 3%," Andrew Kenningham, Chief Europe Economist at Capital Economics, told Euronews, putting the rate somewhere in between the Commission's and WTO's estimations.

The US administration, however, points to an unfair "asymmetry" in certain tariff rates. For example, the EU applies a 10% tariff on US car imports, while the US charges just 2.5%.

Brussels says, however, that this fails to consider the fact that the US imposes a 25% tariff on EU-made pickup trucks, which are a favourite among US consumers and account for "about one third of all vehicle sales".

From the linked article. MAGAs will love to explain it! 

[stevenl]

1 hour ago, BLMFem said:

Answer; not even close.

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/04/03/fact-check-are-donald-trumps-tariffs-on-the-eu-really-reciprocal

 

"It is not factually correct to say that the European Union imposes tariffs of 39% on the US. On the contrary, it's a nearer 3%," Andrew Kenningham, Chief Europe Economist at Capital Economics, told Euronews, putting the rate somewhere in between the Commission's and WTO's estimations.

The US administration, however, points to an unfair "asymmetry" in certain tariff rates. For example, the EU applies a 10% tariff on US car imports, while the US charges just 2.5%.

Brussels says, however, that this fails to consider the fact that the US imposes a 25% tariff on EU-made pickup trucks, which are a favourite among US consumers and account for "about one third of all vehicle sales".

Thanks, i was wondering this for some time.

[TheAppletons]

2 hours ago, BLMFem said:

Answer; not even close.

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/04/03/fact-check-are-donald-trumps-tariffs-on-the-eu-really-reciprocal

 

  Slightly off-topic but the people to whom your posting - like three very loud people - mostly live in Cambodia or some other dirt cheap desolate destination because they've f'd up their lives.

 

  They revel in the fact that America, where they used to live, will now suffer the pain they themselves are suffering because they are insufferable fools.  They cheer the demise of the country in which they couldn't be successful because they are basically failures in life.  They post here to make themselves feel better and because they can't afford much more than an internet connection and a rat-infested closet.

 

  In other words, misery love company for these losers.  Best to just ignore them and let them live in ignorance and poverty, eating their 50 thb rice dishes and rooting for their "tough guy" in diapers to "show everyone who's the boss."  

[BLMFem]

1 minute ago, TheAppletons said:

 

  Slightly off-topic but the people to whom your posting - like three very loud people - mostly live in Cambodia or some other dirt cheap desolate destination because they've f'd up their lives.

 

  They revel in the fact that America, where they used to live, will now suffer the pain they themselves are suffering because they are insufferable fools.  They cheer the demise of the country in which they couldn't be successful because they are basically failures in life.  They post here to make themselves feel better and because they can't afford much more than an internet connection and a rat-infested closet.

 

  In other words, misery love company for these losers.  Best to just ignore them and let them live in ignorance and poverty, eating their 50 thb rice dishes and rooting for their "tough guy" in diapers to "show everyone who's the boss."  

Well, I can't say I'm surprised.

[uncletiger]

A bunch of people talking out of their asses.  This article purposefully and intentionally spreads disinformation.

 

The new tariffs are calculated from a number based on trade balance, not absolute rates charged.  If you want to qualify for the minimum 10% rate, you must buy just as much from the US as you sell. It has zero to do with the specific rate applied to imports.

[placeholder]

1 minute ago, uncletiger said:

A bunch of people talking out of their asses.  This article purposefully and intentionally spreads disinformation.

 

The new tariffs are calculated from a number based on trade balance, not absolute rates charged.  If you want to qualify for the minimum 10% rate, you must buy just as much from the US as you sell. It has zero to do with the specific rate applied to imports.

They why does Trump repeatedly cite false tariff rates to justify the tariffs. And even if a country runs a deficit with the US, a 10% tariff charge will still be imposed on it.

[BLMFem]

1 minute ago, uncletiger said:

A bunch of people talking out of their asses.  This article purposefully and intentionally spreads disinformation.

 

The new tariffs are calculated from a number based on trade balance, not absolute rates charged.  If you want to qualify for the minimum 10% rate, you must buy just as much from the US as you sell. It has zero to do with the specific rate applied to imports.

The article clearly refutes what many people believe, that the tariff rates are based on on the rates levied on US goods exported to the EU. That's clearly not the case.

What clearly is the case is that the tariff numbers are figures randomly pulled out of Trump's enormous butt. They make no economic sense at all.

[placeholder]

4 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

The article clearly refutes what many people believe, that the tariff rates are based on on the rates levied on US goods exported to the EU. That's clearly not the case.

What clearly is the case is that the tariff numbers are figures randomly pulled out of Trump's enormous butt. They make no economic sense at all.

Actually, not random. Not sensible but not random. Basically you take the the percentage of exports vs imports and divide that percentage by 2. For example. Let's say the USA imported $10 billion from country ex  and exported 5 billion. 5 billion is 50% of 10 billion. Divide that by 2 and you come up with 25%. And that would be the tariff. Except when the formula yields a number lower than 10%. Then it's still 10%. Even in the case of countries like Brazil that actually run a deficit in trade with the USA.