What World Leaders Have Been Saying About Trump’s Tariffs so Far

Global leaders have reacted to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs with a mix of criticism, concern, and calls for calm.

As of May 27, there is a 10% blanket tariff on all goods imported into the United States, with limited exemptions for the auto industry and some electronics; additional tariffs on 75 countries were paused on April 9.

The US agreed to reduce up to 245% in tariffs on imports from China, the manufacturing hub, down to 30% for 90 days starting from May 14.

The 50% tariff on imports from the European Union that was to be imposed on June 1 has also been paused, with a new deadline of July 7. The EU said on May 26 that trade negotiations will be “fast-tracked.”

The Trump administration has repeatedly indicated that it is negotiating with various trading partners, including the EU, China, and Japan.

May 24 marks the halfway point until the Trump administration’s “reciprocal tariffs” return for most trading partners on July 7. So far, these talks have only yielded the outline of a trade deal with the UK on May 8, addressing everything from agricultural products to aerospace components, but the 10% tariff remains in place.

Trade and international relations experts have previously told Business Insider that the pressure is now on Trump to deliver trade deals before the tariff pause ends 90 days from April 9.

However, Trump previously said on May 6 that he doesn’t need to make deals in response to being asked when deals would be made.

“We don’t have to sign deals, they have to sign deals with us. They want a piece of our market. We don’t want a piece of their market,” Trump said during the White House meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Here is what world leaders have said about Trump’s tariffs and potential negotiations so far.

Canada

Prime Minister Mark Carney called Trump’s April 2 tariffs “unjustified,” and vowed to defend jobs in Canada “by protecting supply management, doubling revenue protections, and expanding processing capacity.”

During a May 6 meeting with Trump at the White House, both leaders signaled that the USMCA — a trade agreement between the US, Canada, and Mexico — could face an overhaul.

“It is a basis for a broader negotiation,” said Carney of USMCA while fielding reporter questions with Trump. “Some things about it are going to have to change, and part of the way you’ve conducted these tariffs has taken advantage of existing aspects of USMCA — so it’s going to have to change.”

Carney is considered by many as a relative newcomer in politics, but he has decades of experience in finance.

China

Trump and China have thus far disagreed on everything from whether tariffs are justified to who initiated their upcoming trade talks in Switzerland.

“The meeting between Chinese and US senior officials on economic matters was requested by the US side,” China’s spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, wrote on X on Wednesday. “Recently, the US has said repeatedly it wants to negotiate with China.”

Trump denied that the US had reached out first, and said, “No,” on May 7 when asked if he would consider lowering his tariffs on China to help smooth upcoming talks.

China has previously suggested that the US must lower the imposed tariffs first to gain trust.

“China wants to stress: in any potential talks and discussions, if the US doesn’t correct its false unilateral tariffs, it means there is a lack of genuine intent, and that will further erode mutual trust,” said the spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Commerce in a press conference on May 2.

“Talking one way and acting another, or using talks as a cover for coercion and pressure, simply won’t work with China,” the spokesperson added.

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UK

The UK announced the outlines of a trade deal with the US on May 8 at the White House. This would be the closest the Trump administration has gotten to a signed trade deal since the April 2 tariffs.

According to a White House fact sheet, the deal would create “a $5 billion opportunity for new exports for US farmers, ranchers, and producers,” including those that produce beef, ethanol, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace technologies. The 10% baseline tariff, however, remains in place for the UK.

During a visit to a Jaguar Land Rover factory on May 8, Starmer said the deal is expected to “protect British businesses and save thousands of jobs.”

Additionally, Starmer said the deal completely removes tariffs on British steel and aluminum, will “provide vital assurances for our life sciences sector,” and “grant unprecedented market access for British farmers.”

UK Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds previously called Trump’s imposition of tariffs “disappointing” on April 3, while Starmer warned that tariffs will have a major “economic impact, both nationally and globally.”

Starmer also previously said on April 3 that nothing would be “off the table” when it came to the UK’s response to the tariffs, though he hopes to secure a deal with the US.

Mexico

Despite facing 25% in tariffs, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has taken a less critical stance than most world leaders.

“There are no additional tariffs on Mexico, and that is good for the country,” Sheinbaum said during a press conference on April 3 after Trump announced broad tariffs the day before.

Sheinbaum said Mexico was spared from more tariffs due to “the good relationship we have constructed with the US government, based on collaboration but with respect.”

In a subsequent daily briefing on April 7, 2025, Sheinbaum confirmed that Mexico will not impose retaliatory tariffs on the US.

Sheinbaum had also previously successfully negotiated pauses on tariffs imposed on Mexico in February by highlighting her efforts in curbing fentanyl trafficking and deploying 10,000 National Guard troops to the border, issues that were listed by Trump as reasons to place duties on Mexico.

European Union

The 27-nation bloc faced a 50% tariff set to begin on June 1, but after a call between Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the tariff was postponed.

On May 25, Von der Leyen said on X that “Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively,” and that she had a “good call” with Trump.

“They agreed both to fast-track the trade negotiations and to stay in close contact,” Paula Pinho, a spokeswoman for the European Commission, said during a press conference on May 26, a day after the two leaders spoke over the phone.

“We are talking about, of course, the world’s single largest and closest trading relations, so these negotiations are complex,” Pinho added. “With this call, there’s now a new impetus for the negotiations.”

On May 26, Maros Sefcovic, the EU’s chief trade negotiator, also said on X that he had “good calls” with the secretary of commerce, Howard Lutnick, and ambassador Jamieson Greer.

The EU had originally offered the US a “zero for zero” deal in which tariffs would be mutually removed entirely, but the US rejected the deal.

Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called Trump’s April 2 tariffs on EU imports a “unilateral attack” and “19th-century protectionism.”

Sanchez also promptly announced a €14.1 billion ($15B) aid package for affected industries like aluminum, olive oil, and wine.

“We will overcome this unfair crisis without renouncing our values,” Sánchez said. “Europe’s hand is outstretched, and it always will be because the American people, beyond their governments, are a friendly people, but that does not mean that we are going to stand by and do nothing.”

After Trump paused additional tariffs on 75 trading partners on April 9, Sánchez said the decision could open “a door to negotiation.”

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Germany

The outgoing chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, said Trump’s decisions on tariffs are “fundamentally wrong” and supported Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, when she called for Europe to react “united, strong, and appropriate.”

“This is an attack on a trade order that has created prosperity around the globe,” Scholz said at a news conference in Berlin on April 7.

“The entire global economy will suffer from these ill-conceived decisions. Businesses and consumers everywhere in the world, including in the US, will be affected,” Scholz added. “The US administration is embarking on a path that can only result in losses for everyone.”

German economy minister Robert Habeck said in February that Trump will “buckle under pressure” if Europe bands together.

Conservative leader Friedrich Merz became Germany’s new chancellor as of May 7 and has yet to address tariffs.

Australia

Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia and leader of the Labour Party, made it clear that there will be no retaliatory measures against the US.

“It is the American people who will pay the biggest price for these unjustified tariffs,” said Albanese in a statement on April 3. “This is why our government will not be seeking to impose reciprocal tariffs. We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth.”

Despite being critical of Trump’s tariffs, Albanese said there will be “continued constructive engagement” with the US, because the history between the two countries is “bigger than a poor decision.”

Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba urged Trump to lower tariffs against Japan in a phone call with Trump on April 7, but said a deal “won’t come overnight.”

“I’ve told the president that Japan has been the biggest investor in the United States for five straight years and the tariff policies could hurt Japanese companies’ investment capabilities,” said Ishiba during a news conference after the call.

During Trump’s first term as president, the US and Japan signed a bilateral trade deal in 2019 that cut tariffs on US farm goods, Japanese machine tools, and other products while staving off higher duties on Japan’s auto exports.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on April 21 that Tokyo has no plan to terminate the trade deal struck in 2019, but will keep voicing “grave concern” over inconsistency between the deal and Trump’s latest automobile tariffs.

Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, has been visiting Washington, DC, in recent weeks.