[Global Times Comprehensive Report] “The EU and Mexico have finally learned their ruling results,” reported Spain’s National newspaper. On the 12th, US President Donald Trump announced that starting from August 1, tariffs of 30% will be imposed on goods imported from the EU and Mexico. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the threats made by the US side and emphasized that if a deal cannot be reached, the EU will “mobilize all available means and intensify preparation for effective countermeasures.” According to an announcement made by Mexican Economy Minister Ebrard, Mexico informed the US during negotiations that its announcement of new tariffs was “an unfair move.”
On the 13th, The New York Times stated that despite the threatened economies in Washington indicating they would continue to push for negotiations, the atmosphere has become increasingly hostile. CNN commented that the US’s tariff actions have disrupted global trade, imposing a series of tariffs on trade partners before suspending, amending, raising, or lowering these tariffs. The confused policy actions have prompted both major countries and Americans alike to try to figure out how to plan for the future amidst increased economic uncertainty. “Countries are negotiating ways to reduce their reliance on the US,” said an analyst to The Guardian.
Mexico officials: This is an unfair move
On the 12th local time, Trump posted a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on social media. He claimed that Mexico failed to prevent the entry of substances like Fentanyl into the US, and also did not do enough to help the US prevent illegal immigrants from entering. The EU’s tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers have led to a significant trade deficit with the US, and the relationship between the two sides is “far from mutually beneficial.”
In the letter, the tone is consistent with that of the previous week’s messages to other leaders in other countries, including warning against retaliatory actions from the recipient country, encouraging their companies to relocate to the United States, and suggesting possible adjustments in tax rates if the recipient actively cooperates.
During an event on the 12th, Simpson expressed her belief that the Mexican government could still reach an agreement with the United States, but Mexico would not make any concessions on sovereignty issues. The New York Times reported that a delegation led by Mexico’s Minister of Economy, Ebrard, arrived in Washington last Friday to discuss an agreement covering border security, immigration, trade, and water resource management with U.S. officials. Ebrard stated in a press release on the 12th that U.S. officials had informed Mexican counterparts that as part of “a profound change in U.S. trade policy,” the U.S. government would send letters to world leaders announcing new tariffs. “We have mentioned at the negotiating table that this action is unfair, and we do not agree with it,” said The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter. The current bilateral discussions between Mexico and the United States are extremely difficult. The new threat of tariffs comes amid growing discontent and fatigue among people regarding the U.S. government.
“Trump has turned tariff notifications into his main economic deterrent tool,” the Financialist newspaper in Mexico recently stated. If an agreement cannot be reached with the United States, Mexico will suffer “costs such as increased inflation, reduced investment, economic stagnation, and escalated domestic political pressure.” Data shows that U.S. tariff policies could shrink Mexico’s GDP by 0.6 percentage points in 2025. Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao reported that 80% of Mexico’s exports go to the United States, making it one of the countries most vulnerable to tariff measures.
“Whether domestically or geopolitically, we face sustained and deliberate pressure from the U.S. government. It can be said that the U.S. is strangling our necks,”
Mexico’s “El Universal” newspaper on the 12th described the US tariff letter as a “toxic missive,” revealing that Washington has adopted a “carrot and stick” strategy. The article states that the United States is currently facing severe fiscal issues, hence insisting on forcing cross-border companies within Mexico to relocate their factories to the U.S. Despite previous attempts at negotiation and caution, the Mexican side made numerous concessions only to receive arbitrary abandonment.
French media: A “Fist in the Face” from the U.S.
The European Union also quickly responded to the latest “tariff threat” from the U.S. According to CNN, Ursula von der Leyen stated in her declaration on the 12th that the EU is still striving to reach an agreement before the deadline. The imposition of a 30% tariff would disrupt crucial transatlantic supply chains and harm the interests of businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. The EU will take all necessary measures to protect its interests. On the 13th, von der Leyen announced an extension of the countermeasures against U.S. tariffs until early August. According to the previously announced plan, the EU’s first round of retaliatory measures should have taken effect on the 14th of this month.
According to Germany’s RTL television station on the 13th, the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade Chairman, Ludwig, described the U.S. government’s letter as “arrogant and disrespectful.” He mentioned that Europe and America had been engaged in intense negotiations for over three weeks, proposing proposals to safeguard common interests. At this point, Trump suddenly decided to impose tariffs without reason or sincerity, lacking respect. Agence France-Presse quoted the German Chamber of Industry saying that the U.S. government’s letter has sounded an alarm for industry across the Atlantic. The Italian Wine Association expressed that Washington’s letter marked “the darkest chapter in the relationship between allies.” The French “Le Monde” described the U.S. actions as a “fist in the face” to the EU.
On the 12th, the website of Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported that the U.S. trade policy poses a “serious reality threat” to the EU.
令欧盟处境更尴尬的是，其安全、金融和数字基础设施都依赖于美国。另外，成员国的分歧也加剧了欧盟的困境。综合《纽约时报》、德国《世界报》13日报道，欧洲目前正就如何应对美方举措展开争论。法国对美国的威胁言论“表示强烈反对”，该国总统马克龙呼吁欧盟“坚定捍卫欧洲利益”。欧盟贸易官员正面临压力，要求他们通过展示欧盟实力来回应美国。但与此同时，德国经济与能源部长赖歇希望谈判取得“务实成果”，希望双方能找到一个聚焦主要冲突点的解决方案。
“它们别无选择，只能实现多元化”
截至12日，特朗普已经在社交媒体上向25个经济体发出关税信函。但《纽约时报》认为，写给欧盟和墨西哥的信尤其值得关注，“它们标志着（美方举措的）重大升级，矛头直指美国最亲密、最关键的两个贸易伙伴”。
《卫报》13日称，最近数周，欧盟已从强硬表态转而寻求达成协议，但美国再次扭转局面，“对欧盟征收30%关税这一令人震惊的威胁打击了其信心”。西班牙《国家报》说，双方贸易谈判加速之际，华盛顿的信函对布鲁塞尔而言如同一枚“炸弹”。
至于墨西哥，《华尔街日报》称，自特朗普重返白宫后，辛鲍姆尚未与他面对面见过。两人原定于在6月举行的七国集团峰会期间会谈，但当辛鲍姆经过8小时的旅程抵达峰会举办地时却发现，特朗普已经提前回到华盛顿。报道说，墨西哥一直在努力满足美国的要求，并寻求保持开放的沟通渠道。埃布拉德频繁地往返于墨西哥城与华盛顿之间。
“This administration believes it is communicating with Trump and his cabinet members to advance bilateral relations, but then the United States has done something that takes you back to the starting point,” said Mexican political analyst Ocampo. Mexican former Foreign Minister Castañeda stated that Simbom gave the US government everything it wanted and did so very well, hoping for a special agreement from Mexico, but ultimately “she did not receive an outcome different from others.”
The Associated Press commented on the 12th that the US government’s inconsistent trade policies over the past week have left countries hoping to settle their differences through negotiations even more confused. American former trade negotiator Carter said Washington’s recent actions highlight its trade policy as “unpredictable, lacking coherence, and aggressive.”
The New York Times noted that US officials continue to describe tariff threats as a strategy aimed at getting other countries to make more concessions during negotiations. However, according to Trump’s timeline, the window for reaching an agreement and avoiding punitive tariffs is rapidly closing. Tariff measures appear to add negotiation leverage for the US in other trading partners, but business leaders emphasized that so far, the government’s strategy has made it harder for them to do business abroad rather than easier.
“US allies want to redraw the world trade map excluding the US,” The New York Times reported on the 13th. Trade partners between the US are strengthening ties, laying the groundwork for a global trade system that is less centered around the US. The EU is attempting to establish closer trade relationships with Canada, South Africa, and countries in South America and Asia, and has restored friendly relations with the UK. Canada is moving closer to Southeast Asian countries, Brazil and Mexico are striving to deepen bilateral ties. “Leaving the US will be difficult, as it is the world’s largest economy with a thriving consumer market, leading technology, and services. But many US trade partners believe they have no choice but to diversify.”
Although trade relations are difficult to change, it is also hard to revert once they have been completely restructured,” the article said.