'Direct 50% tariff' on Ireland and the European Union, Donald Trump has announced

Donald Trump has announced that he will impose a 'direct 50% tariff' on Ireland and the European Union.

In a threat circulated on social media, US President Donald Trump said, "I am recommending a 50% tariff on direct imports from the European Union effective June 1, 2025. If the product is made or manufactured in the United States, there will be no tariff."

In a post shared on his social media platform Truth Social, he accused the European Union of being "very difficult to deal with" and that "negotiations with them are going nowhere."

Trump said he would impose a 50% tariff on products if they are not made or manufactured in the US. Trump has also threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Apple products if iPhones are not made in the US.

The tariff hike could disrupt global business. Stock markets fell on the threat of tariffs. Stock markets in the US and across Europe fell more than 1%, with the S&P 500 index down about 1.3%, following Donald Trump's announcement. Ireland's ISEQ index fell about 1%. Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin said the tariff announcement was "extremely disappointing."

Speaking after today's announcement, Ian Talbot, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce Ireland, said: "The proposed tariff increases on EU imports bring uncertainty to a stable and integrated trading relationship. The immediate consequences for businesses will be to delay investment decisions, disrupt supply chains and undermine market confidence."

"The EU/US relationship is not just of great economic importance. It is a cornerstone of the rules-based global trading system. For decades, EU-US trade has been a model of openness, trust and shared prosperity. Rising tariffs between these two major economies at a time when stability is crucial could disrupt global business."

He said that de-escalation should be prioritized over retaliation: "We call on the US and the EU to redouble their ongoing efforts to renew their trade relationship. Rapid and coordinated de-escalation is essential to maintaining the trust and stability that underpin international trade, business investment, and job creation."

But various economic experts say Trump's mention of imposing a 50 percent tariff on the European Union is a negotiating tactic.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Apple products if iPhones are not made in the US.

Mr Trump posted on Truth Social: “I have long since informed Apple’s Tim Cook that I expect their iPhones sold in the US to be made and manufactured in the US, not in India or anywhere else. If not, Apple should pay at least a 25% tariff to the US.”

The threat via social media could cause a significant increase in the price of iPhones, which could affect the sales and profits of one of America's leading technology companies.

Apple's company now joins Amazon, Walmart and other major companies that the White House is targeting as it tries to respond to the uncertainty and inflationary pressures caused by Trump's import tariffs.