Trump’s trade war will put huge pressure on Dutch import tariffs

28 March 2025

Following the announcement of President Trump’s trade war, Europe – alongside trading partners Canada, Mexico, and China – will also have to be seriously prepared for a sharp rise in import tariffs in the near future. These might even rise to as much as 25%. It had previously been announced that steel products would bear the brunt here, but shippers of all manner of other goods will also be affected from 2 April this year. We’ll bring you up to date with what’s coming up later this year.

World trade in major turmoil

Now Donald Trump’s second term as president has started, there will be changes to various trade agreements once again. Whereas he sometimes came up with plans in a rather clumsy and ad hoc manner in his first years in office, the current, unannounced developments seem much more considered.

The Dutch steel industry, pharmaceutical, automotive, and Rotterdam petrochemical industries will face direct financial implications of Trump’s new policy. Unfortunately, exports (particularly to the U.S.) will not be spared either, as is evidenced by the already announced increases in U.S. port dues.

In the recently presented webinar by the Nieuwsblad Transport, editor Rieneke Kok – together with economist Bart Kuipers (Erasmus UPT), supply chain expert Casper Roerade (Evofenedex), and strategist Michiel Nijdam (Havenbedrijf Rotterdam) – explained the consequences of the imminent import tariffs. Ritra Cargo attended this webinar and has made a list of the key points for you, the shipper.

Trump’s underlying thought 

Why is the United States taking these extreme measures? In short, there are three reasons:

• America is plagued by large trade deficits. One intention is to reduce Chinese import, which is seen as ‘unfair trade’. Import tariffs are believed to be the solution, serving as a means of pressure at the same time;

• Limiting foreign trade should make domestic production more attractive;

• Trump has promised his voters to lower domestic taxes. This money has to come from somewhere else. Increasing tariffs on imports generates revenue that can be used for these purposes.

Possible consequences for all importers

All this not only concerns the American trade partners in China, Mexico, and Canada – shippers in Europe will also be on the receiving end. It bothers the president considerably that his country is so dependent on trading partners, and that they cannot meet this demand domestically.

As no such increases have ever been implemented before, on such a large scale, the impact of these developments cannot be predicted at present. What is certain, however, is that this will not only affect the industrial market in the Netherlands, but shippers of all manner of other import and export goods as well. What’s more, it remains to be seen how the global economy and the dollar exchange rate will react.

Exactly which goods will be affected and what you can expect will – if all goes well – become clear on Wednesday 2 April 2025. Right now, this is the date on which the U.S. government has indicated new information will be shared on this. For the latest developments, we advise you to keep a close eye on our website and social media.