Rerun

recurring remark

The recurring threats of tariffs and sanctions against longtime allies

You're probably here because of the Aug 2025 rerun. This is the 15th time since 2016 (archive start) this story has run. The previous rerun was Jul 2025.

About this story

Since 2016, Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized long-standing US allies (Canada, the EU and its members, Denmark, NATO partners) while threatening tariffs, the end of trade talks or conditional defense commitments. Some threats were carried out, some paused or negotiated into deals, and some dropped. Allied governments responded with countermeasures, concessions or public rebuttals.

Sources: 1, 2

20162026

Aug 2025 Threat over digital taxes and tech rules

On Aug 25, 2025, Trump posted on Truth Social that "Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American technology." He warned that unless these were removed, he "will impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country's Exports to the U.S.A., and institute Export restrictions on our Highly Protected Technology and Chips" (Reuters). He named no country. Euronews said the remarks "could be read as a criticism" of the EU's Digital Markets Act and DSA, and noted that the UK, France, Italy and Spain have digital services taxes. Reuters noted that Trump had earlier threatened Canada and France with tariffs over digital taxes, and in February 2025 ordered his trade chief to revive investigations into countries with these taxes. Stated US rationale: Trump said the rules "discriminate against" American technology and "give a complete pass to China's largest tech companies" (Euronews). The European Commission answered on Aug 26 that "it is the sovereign right of the EU and its member states to regulate economic activities on our territory" (RTÉ). Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho said other measures outside the July EU-US trade framework were "merely speculative." EU tech spokesperson Thomas Regnier said the EU could "firmly rebut" the idea that its rules target US companies, noting that the last three DSA enforcement decisions were against AliExpress, TikTok and Temu (RTÉ). What followed: no official action on this threat is recorded in these sources.

  • euronews.com article
    Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American technology,
  • Yahoo News article
    will impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country's Exports to the U.S.A., and institute Export restrictions on our Highly Protected Technology and Chips
  • rte.ie article
    It is the sovereign right of the EU and its member states to regulate economic activities on our territory

Sources: Yahoo News reliable · euronews.com reliable · rte.ie needs a second source · cnbc.com reliable

Jul 2025 The EU tariff threat ends in the Turnberry deal

On July 12, 2025, Trump posted a letter to the EU on his social media account. In it he called the US trade deficit a national security threat and said the relationship had been "far from Reciprocal." He announced a 30% tariff on EU goods from August 1 and warned he would raise it further if the EU raised its own tariffs (NPR, CBS). The EU threatened "proportionate countermeasures if required" but extended the pause on them until early August (CBS, CNN). On July 27 at Turnberry, the two sides agreed that most EU goods would face a 15% tariff instead (OPB/NPR, CNBC). Executive Order 14326, signed July 31, 2025, implemented that rate for EU goods (Federal Register).

  • NPR article
    Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal.
  • CNN article
    We will therefore also extend the suspension of our countermeasures till early August,
  • opb.org article
    This was the big one. This is the biggest of them all,

Sources: cbsnews.com reliable · nbcnewyork.com needs a second source · federalregister.gov needs a second source · hsfkramer.com needs a second source

Jun 2025 Trump ends trade talks with Canada over its digital services tax

On June 27, 2025, Trump posted on Truth Social that Canada's digital services tax was "a direct and blatant attack on our Country." He said the US was "terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately," and that within seven days the US would tell Canada what tariff it would pay (CNBC). His stated reasons were the tax on US tech companies, Canadian dairy tariffs he put at "as much as 400%," and Canada "copying the European Union" (CNBC). On June 29, Canada's Department of Finance said it would drop the tax, stop the collection due June 30, and resume talks aiming for a deal by July 21, 2025 (Canada.ca). White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Carney "caved" (CBC).

  • cnbc.com article
    Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately.
  • canada.ca statement
    The June 30, 2025 collection will be halted, and Minister Champagne will soon bring forward legislation to rescind the Digital Services Tax Act.
  • cbc.ca article
    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the prime minister "caved" to Trump.
  • youtube.com video

Sources: cnbc.com reliable · canada.ca needs a second source · cbc.ca needs a second source · CNN reliable · NPR reliable

May 2025 50% EU tariff threat

On May 23, 2025, Trump posted on Truth Social that the European Union "has been very difficult to deal with." He said he was "recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025." His stated reasons were the EU's "powerful trade barriers, VAT taxes, ridiculous corporate penalties," and a trade deficit he called "totally unacceptable." After a call on Sunday, May 25, in which von der Leyen asked for an extension, he agreed to move the date to July 9 (Time). In August 2025, the US and EU issued a joint statement on a trade framework built around a 15% tariff level, and no 50% tariff on the EU is recorded in these sources.

  • truthsocial.com social post
    The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with … Our discussions with them are going nowhere!
  • Public Broadcasting Service article
    U.S. stocks are falling on Friday after President Donald Trump threatened 50% tariffs on the European Union that could begin in a little more than a week.
  • Time article
    I agreed to the extension—July 9, 2025

Sources: Time reliable · Public Broadcasting Service reliable · CNN reliable · whitehouse.gov reliable

Mar 2025 200% tariff threat on EU wine, Champagne and spirits

On March 13, 2025, Trump posted on Truth Social that the European Union was "one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States." He threatened a 200% tariff on "all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES" if a planned EU 50% tariff on US whiskey was "not removed immediately." The EU measure was part of its response to the 25% US steel and aluminum tariffs that took effect the day before Trump's post. French Prime Minister François Bayrou said Europeans "will not yield to these kinds of threats." On March 20, the European Commission said its countermeasures, which had been set to start in phases from April 1, would instead all take effect on April 13. A Commission spokesperson said the delay allowed "additional time for discussions with the US administration" (CNN). An April 2025 Fox Business report said bourbon, wine and dairy had been taken off the EU's revised list.

  • cnbc.com article
    If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES.
  • Al Jazeera article
    It is important for us Europeans to show who we are and that we will not yield to these kinds of threats
  • CNN article
    He called the retaliatory tariff it imposed on US bourbon “nasty.”

Sources: cnbc.com reliable · Al Jazeera reliable · CNN reliable · CNN reliable · Fox News needs a second source

Mar 2025 Trump threatens 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum over Ontario's electricity surcharge, then drops it the same day

On the morning of March 11, 2025, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had told his Commerce Secretary to add an extra 25% tariff, bringing the total to 50%, on Canadian steel and aluminum. He cited Ontario's 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Minnesota, Michigan and New York (CBS, NPR). In the same post he repeated that Canada should become the "Fifty First State," saying this "would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear" (CBS, NPR). That afternoon, Ontario Premier Doug Ford suspended the surcharge after a call with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Lutnick told CBS the 50% rate was "off." The White House said the 25% steel and aluminum tariff would apply to Canada and all other trading partners from midnight on March 12 (CBS, NPR). The threat was dropped within hours; the 25% rate went ahead. Peak attention was March 11, 2025: CBS News called it "tariff whiplash on Tuesday," and NPR reported that Trump announced the doubled tariffs and then rescinded them hours later, the day before steel and aluminum tariffs on all trading partners took effect. Background from the Federal Register: the separate 25% duties on Canadian goods (10% on energy) took effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on March 4, 2025. The stated legal basis was a national emergency, first declared at the southern border and expanded to cover the flow of fentanyl and illicit drugs across the northern border. An amendment effective March 7 exempted goods that qualify under the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) and cut the rate on non-qualifying potash to 10%.

  • cbsnews.com article
    Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on 'Electricity' coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
  • cbsnews.com article
    No, that's off, too. So, we're at 25% for steel and aluminum because that's where we were.
  • NPR article
    Stocks fell on the tariff announcement, and Tuesday afternoon, the administration said that it had reached an agreement with Ford.

Sources: cbsnews.com reliable · NPR reliable · federalregister.gov needs a second source · federalregister.gov needs a second source

Feb 2025 25% tariffs ordered on Canada, then paused for 30 days

On February 1, 2025, Trump ordered a 25% tariff on most imports from Canada and a lower 10% tariff on Canadian energy. The White House cited "illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl" and declared a national emergency under IEEPA, the emergency economic powers law. The order says that if Canada retaliates, "the President may increase or expand in scope the duties imposed under this order." On February 2, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "We pay hundreds of Billions of Dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada... Without this massive subsidy, Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country." He said Canada should become "our Cherished 51st State," with "NO TARIFFS!" Canada announced 25% tariffs on $155 billion of U.S. goods. On February 3, Trump paused his tariffs for 30 days after Trudeau said he had pledged more cooperation on border security.

  • Fox News article
    Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada – AND NO TARIFFS!
  • whitehouse.gov statement
    Until the crisis is alleviated, President Donald J. Trump is implementing a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% additional tariff on imports from China.
  • Public Broadcasting Service article
    Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together

Sources: Public Broadcasting Service reliable · Fox News needs a second source · federalregister.gov needs a second source · whitehouse.gov reliable

Jan 2025 Mar-a-Lago news conference on Greenland and Canada

At a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Jan. 7, 2025, President-elect Trump was asked whether he could rule out using military force or coercion to gain control of Greenland or the Panama Canal. He said "No," and threatened tariffs on Denmark, a NATO member, if it did not give up Greenland (NBC News; Axios). He ruled out military force against Canada but said he would use "economic force" to make it part of the US. As his reasons, he cited national security and said "we're spending hundreds of billions here to protect it" (NBC News). Trudeau wrote on X that "There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States" (CBC). Frederiksen, Egede, Scholz and Barrot also publicly rejected or pushed back on the remarks (Axios; NBC News).

  • NBC News article
    People really don't even know that Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security.
  • Axios article
    I am not going to commit to that. It might be that you have to do something
  • NBC News article
    the principle of inviolability of borders applies to every country, regardless of whether it is to the east or west of us.
  • cbc.ca article
    There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States
  • c-span.org video Watch

Sources: NBC News reliable · Axios reliable · cbc.ca needs a second source · NBC News reliable

Feb 2024 "Do whatever the hell they want" rally remark

At a Feb. 10, 2024 campaign rally in Conway, S.C., Trump recounted an exchange with the leader of an unnamed "big country" in NATO. He said he told them a "delinquent" member would not get US protection if attacked by Russia, and that "I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want" (ABC, CNBC). He gave his reason as "You don't pay your bills, you get no protection. It's very simple" (ABC). The remarks paired an attack on allies' defense spending with a threat to withhold US protection. The White House called the remarks "appalling and unhinged," and Stoltenberg said such a suggestion "undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S." (ABC).

  • cnbc.com article
    'No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.'
  • ABC News article
    Encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and unhinged
  • c-span.org video Watch
    to do whatever the hell they want

Sources: ABC News reliable · cnbc.com reliable · CNN reliable · cbsnews.com reliable

Jan 2020 Reported private 25% auto-tariff threat over the Iran nuclear deal

The Washington Post reported on Jan 15, 2020, citing European officials, that Trump administration officials had warned privately that the US would put a 25% tariff on European cars unless Britain, France and Germany formally accused Iran of breaching the 2015 nuclear deal. The three countries triggered the deal's dispute mechanism on Tuesday, Jan 14. The Post also reported that a US official conceded the Europeans "were already moving toward triggering the dispute resolution before the threat was issued last week." Reuters, in a report carried by Al Jazeera, said earlier US auto-tariff threats against Europe were about trade terms, while this one was meant to change European foreign policy. On Jan 16, German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer confirmed the threat existed but denied that the decision to trigger the mechanism was a reaction to it (City AM). Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, tweeted "E3 sold out remnants of

  • The Washington Post article
    the United States would impose a 25 percent tariff on European automobiles, the Trump officials warned, according to European officials familiar with the conversations.
  • cityam.com article
    "This expression or threat, as you will, does exist," she said.
  • cbsnews.com article
    E3 sold out remnants of #JCPOA to avoid new Trump tariffs.

Sources: The Washington Post reliable · Al Jazeera reliable · cbsnews.com reliable · cityam.com needs a second source · Yahoo News reliable

Dec 2019 Proposed tariffs over France's digital services tax

On December 2, 2019, USTR concluded its Section 301 investigation. It found that France's 3% digital services tax "discriminates against U.S. companies," naming Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon. USTR proposed "additional duties of up to 100 percent" on 63 tariff subheadings of French goods, worth about $2.4 billion. It also asked for comment on fees or restrictions on French services. The next day, at the NATO summit in London, Trump said: "I'm not going to let people take advantage of American companies… It's not going to be France." French officials pushed back. Le Maire called the threat unacceptable and said there would be a "strong" European response. This is a tariff threat against a longtime ally and NATO member, which is the thread's pattern.

  • ustr.gov statement
    USTR's decision today sends a clear signal that the United States will take action against digital tax regimes that discriminate or otherwise impose undue burdens on U.S. companies
  • Fox News article
    I'm not going to let people take advantage of American companies
  • cbsnews.com article
    This is not the sort of behavior one expects from the United States with respect to one of its main allies
  • c-span.org video Watch

Sources: ustr.gov needs a second source · france24.com reliable · cbsnews.com reliable · federalregister.gov needs a second source · federalregister.gov needs a second source · federalregister.gov needs a second source · cnbc.com reliable

Aug 2019 Greenland and the cancelled Denmark visit

On Aug 20, 2019, Trump tweeted that "based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time." White House spokesman Judd Deere said the Sept. 2–3 visit had been cancelled (Al Jazeera). On Aug 21, Trump said of Frederiksen's comments, "You don't talk to the United States that way, at least under me." He also tweeted that "Denmark is only at 1.35% of GDP for NATO spending. They are a wealthy country and should be at 2%" (Fox News). Trump announced the postponement, and the White House said the visit was cancelled. Frederiksen's office said on Aug 23 that the two leaders had spoken by phone late on Aug 22 (NBC News).

  • Al Jazeera article
    I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time
  • Fox News article
    You don't talk to the United States that way, at least under me.
  • cnbc.com article
    Lene Balleby, head of communications for the royal household, told the Associated Press the news was a "surprise" to the palace
  • NBC News article
    Both leaders spoke late Thursday, and Danish media reported that the call was "constructive."

Sources: Al Jazeera reliable · cnbc.com reliable · Fox News needs a second source · NBC News reliable

Jul 2018 Brussels NATO summit attack on Germany and follow-on threats

On July 11, 2018, Trump told Stoltenberg on camera that "Germany, as far as I'm concerned, is captive to Russia," because of its Russian energy imports and the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline. He tied this to US defense of Germany: "We're supposed to protect Germany but getting their energy from Russia." On July 12, the Washington Post, citing two officials briefed on the closed meeting (as relayed by Axios), reported that Trump told leaders the US "would go it alone" if they didn't reach 2% of GDP on defense by January. At his press conference that day, Trump said he "probably can" pull the US out of NATO without Congress, "but that's unnecessary." In a separate answer later in the press conference, he said of trade negotiators due "the 25th of July" that "if they don't negotiate in good faith, we'll do something having to do with all of the millions of cars that are coming into our country."

  • Public Broadcasting Service article
    Germany is totally controlled by Russia, because they will be getting from 60 to 70 percent of their energy from Russia and a new pipeline,
  • The Washington Post article
    Germany, as far as I'm concerned, is captive to Russia because it's getting so much of its energy from Russia,
  • nato.usmission.gov statement
    And if they don't negotiate in good faith, we'll do something having to do with all of the millions of cars that are coming into our country

Sources: Al Jazeera reliable · Public Broadcasting Service reliable · The Washington Post reliable · Axios reliable

May 2018 – Jun 2018 Steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, the EU and Mexico; the G7 clash with Trudeau

Proclamation 9759 of May 31, 2018, issued under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, restated the finding that steel imports "threaten to impair the national security of the United States" and said the 25% steel tariff "will now apply to imports of steel articles from additional countries." Al Jazeera reported that the move ended "a two-month exemption" for Canada, Mexico and the EU, and that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced the 25% steel duty and a 10% duty on aluminum from June 1. Ross said NAFTA talks were "taking longer than we had hoped." On June 9, after leaving the G7 summit in Charlevoix, Trump tweeted that Trudeau was "Very dishonest & weak." He also said he had told US representatives not to endorse the communiqué "as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!" and that "Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!" Trudeau had said Canada would "move forward with retaliatory measures" on July 1 and that "we also will not be pushed around" (CNN). Al Jazeera reported Canada's retaliatory tariffs as worth $12.8bn. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called it "a bad day for world trade" and said the EU would bring a WTO dispute and announce "counterbalancing measures."

  • CNN article
    Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!
  • presidency.ucsb.edu social post
    PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that 'US Tariffs were kind of insulting' and he 'will not be pushed around.' Very dishonest & weak. Our Tariffs are in response to his of 270% on dairy!
  • Al Jazeera article
    This is a bad day for world trade
  • govinfo.gov statement
    the tariff will now apply to imports of steel articles from additional countries

Sources: CNN reliable · presidency.ucsb.edu reliable · PolitiFact reliable · Al Jazeera reliable · govinfo.gov reliable · govinfo.gov reliable

Jul 2016 Conditional defense of Baltic NATO allies

In a July 20, 2016 interview with David E. Sanger and Maggie Haberman of the New York Times, Republican nominee Donald Trump was asked whether NATO members, including the Baltic states, could count on US military aid if Russia attacked. He replied: "Have they fulfilled their obligations to us? If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes." His stated reason was that "We have many NATO members that aren't paying their bills" (Atlantic Council transcript excerpt). CNBC reported his position as meaning the US "would not automatically guarantee security to the 28 members of NATO." The remarks paired public criticism of allies with a defense commitment conditioned on their meeting obligations, rather than an automatic one. Context: Trump was a candidate at the time, so no official action followed.

  • atlanticcouncil.org statement
    Have they fulfilled their obligations to us? If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes.
  • cnbc.com article
    Donald Trump told The New York Times that if elected, he would not automatically come to the aid of NATO allies in the Baltics if they came under Russian attack.

Sources: cnbc.com reliable · atlanticcouncil.org needs a second source · archive-yaleglobal.yale.edu needs a second source