Trump recommends raising tariffs on the European Union to 50%

US President Donald Trump threatened the European Union on Friday with a 50% tariff on European products imported into the United States starting June 1, saying ongoing negotiations were "at a standstill."

Trump said in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, that "the European Union is very difficult to deal with, and was created primarily to exploit the United States commercially... Our discussions are at a standstill."

He added, "Under these circumstances, I recommend imposing a 50% customs duty on the European Union, effective June 1."

In a related development, Trump today threatened Apple with a 25% tariff unless it manufactures iPhones in the United States.