Donald Trump’s proposed 50% tariff on EU exports could severely impact key manufacturing sectors, notably autos, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals, which collectively represent over €530bn in exports to the US. Economic analyses indicate that such tariffs could reduce the EU’s GDP by up to 0.5%, with particularly large effects on countries like Ireland. The pharmaceutical sector, which exported nearly €80bn in 2024, warns that tariffs could lead to medicine shortages, while the aerospace and auto industries are already facing rising costs and are urging negotiations to avoid escalating trade tensions.
