Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, criticized President Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on EU car imports, saying it demonstrates the U.S. is an unreliable trading partner. Lange described the move as "unacceptable" and stressed the EU has upheld a Scotland-brokered framework deal that set a 15% tariff to avert a larger trade war. He also accused the U.S. of breaching the pact, noting over 400 steel- and aluminium-related products now face an average 26% tariff.
EU Trade Chief Hits Back: Trump’s Auto Tariff Hike Shows U.S. Is an Unreliable Partner
FILE PHOTO: A drone view shows the European Union flags outside the European Commission headquarters, known as the Berlaymont building in Brussels, Belgium, April 29, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman/ File Photo
BRUSSELS, May 1 — U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement to raise tariffs on cars imported from the European Union has prompted sharp criticism from the European Parliament’s trade committee chair, Bernd Lange, who said the move underlines that the United States is behaving like an unreliable trading partner.
"This latest move demonstrates just how unreliable the U.S. side is," Lange said. "This is no way to treat close partners. Now we can only respond with the utmost clarity and firmness, drawing on the strength of our position."
Lange called the decision "unacceptable," saying the EU has been honoring a framework trade agreement brokered in Scotland last year. That deal, he noted, established a 15% import tariff on most EU goods and helped avert a wider trade war between the two sides.
He accused the United States of repeatedly breaching the agreement, citing more than 400 products involving steel and aluminium that are now subject to an average tariff of about 26%. Lange warned the EU will consider clear and firm responses to protect its interests.
What Comes Next: The remarks signal mounting diplomatic strain and raise the prospect of retaliatory measures or renewed negotiations aimed at restoring a stable trade relationship.
(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; Writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Ros Russell)
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