Donald Trump's EU car tariffs ‘targeting Germany,’ says key German MEP

Published on 04/05/2026 - 9:51 GMT+2

Trump’s determination to slap 25% tariffs connected EU cars is politically motivated and aimed squarely astatine German automakers, German MEP Bernd Lange (S&D), seat of the European Parliament’s commercialized committee, told Europe Today connected Monday.

“There are nary ineligible oregon nary economical reasons for those tariffs. This is truly politically against Germany,” Lange said. “He is targeting specifically German car manufacturers.”

Lange’s remarks travel days aft Trump announced the tariffs, pursuing disapproval of the U.S. warfare successful Iran by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The US president has accused respective European countries of refusing to lend to Washington’s subject operations against Iran. He besides announced Friday that helium would retreat 5,000 US troops stationed successful Germany.

If enacted this week, the measures would breach the 15% ceiling agreed nether a commercialized woody struck successful July 2025 betwixt Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen successful Turnberry, Scotland.

Lange expressed doubts astir the Turnberry agreement, which was reached aft weeks of commercialized tensions betwixt Europe and the US pursuing Trump’s instrumentality to powerfulness and the motorboat of a nationalist commercialized agenda.

“I'm not definite that we tin truly spell on,” Lange said of the deal.

Divisions implicit Parliament’s safeguards

The Turnberry statement was aboriginal enactment connected clasp respective times by MEPs, notably aft Trump threatened tariffs connected EU countries that refused to fto him get Greenland.

“The temper successful the European Union has changed, specifically aft Greenland,” Lange said, adding that each retaliatory options were present connected the array pursuing Trump’s latest threats.

“We person the toolbox and of people each the tools are in,” helium said, referring to the EU’s anti-coercion instruments designed to respond to economical unit from 3rd countries. “We volition look besides to different elements similar countermeasures, similar counter-tariffs oregon export restrictions.”

The statement is present nether treatment among EU governments and lawmakers, with a presumption to cutting EU tariffs connected US concern goods to zero arsenic outlined successful the deal.

MEPs person nevertheless built safeguards into the associated statement, including a “sunrise” clause that makes caller EU tariff cuts conditional connected the U.S. gathering its obligations, and a “sunset” clause that would terminate the statement successful March 2028.

However, EU subordinate states stay divided implicit these provisions, with France backing the European Parliament’s tougher line, portion Germany has resisted it.

“Germany, unfortunately, was much successful the campy of the second,” Lange said. “Now, I conjecture besides present is simply a change.”