WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will hike US tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union next week, charging that the bloc is not complying with an earlier trade deal.

The pact, which was struck last summer, had capped the US tariff on EU autos and parts at 15 per cent, which is lower than the 25pc duty that Trump imposed on many other trading partners.

But the US leader said Friday: “Based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States.”

“The Tariff will be increased to 25pc,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He did not give a further reason for the planned hike, but the announcement came a day after his renewed criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Trump told Merz to focus on ending the Ukraine war instead of “interfering” on Iran.

Germany would likely be hit hard by a sharp tariff on cars and parts, as it is responsible for a significant amount of EU auto exports.

Earlier, on Thursday, Trump announced he was lifting tariffs on whisky from Britain, in a nod to King Charles on the final day of a royal visit celebrating a former colony’s impending 250th anniversary of independence.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he would soon be removing tariffs and restrictions related to Scotland’s ability to work with Kentucky on whisky and bourbon.

However, British exports to the US have slumped since the introduction of US tariffs, data from the Office for National Statistics showed. Both countries concluded a trade agreement last year capping US tariffs at 10pc on most British manufactured goods, including on cars. But a drop in car exports to the US was still a main driver of the overall decline, the ONS said.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2026