European cars, waiting for the US/ Fear of new tariffs from August 1 prevails
The port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium is facing a backlog of thousands of cars, vans, trucks and tractors as vehicle exports to the US have plummeted following the announcement of new tariffs by President Donald Trump. Official figures show a 15.9% drop in new vehicle deliveries to the US in the first half of 2025.
International Car Operators (ICO) recorded a 15% decline since last year due to US tariffs, said the Managing Director of the Belgian shipping company, Alain Guillemyn.
The ICO terminal at the Belgian port is currently at 80-85% of its capacity, "which is quite high," Guillemyn said, and linked this to the "uncertainty" created not only by the US tariffs, but also by other geopolitical issues and a decline in global demand.
President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on EU goods to 30% from August 1, increasing pressure on the bloc to reach a deal.
"Shipping lines are preparing if there was a higher target from the US to export as much as possible by the end of this month," Guillemyn said, but companies are "hoping that the US and the EU will have a good trade deal," he added.
Brussels, along with representatives of the automotive industry, has spent months trying to convince Washington to lower its 27.5% tariff on European car imports.
Before Trump took office, the US had a 2.5% tariff on cars made in Europe, while the EU had a 10% tax on vehicles imported from the US.
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