Donald Trump's return to the world economic field was enough to shake the markets. Friday, a lapidary declaration on Truth Social set fire to the powder: 50 % customs duties on European imports from 1er June. The reaction was not long in coming. Wall Street wandered the traders as an emergency positions from the opening, and the cryptos market collected the shock: Bitcoin dropped by 4 %, which led to position liquidations of more than $ 300 million.
In short
- Donald Trump threatens to impose 50 % customs duties on European imports on June 1, relaunching transatlantic trade tensions.
- The American president denounces a trade deficit which he deems unacceptable, estimated between 300 and 350 billion dollars, a figure disputed by Brussels.
- This escalation occurs in a context of blocked negotiations between the EU and the United States, despite a 90-day price break earlier this year.
- His declaration caused an immediate drop in Bitcoin by 4 %, with a withdrawal up to $ 107,367 and more than $ 350 million in liquidations on the Crypto market.
The return of a commercial showdown: Trump relaunches the pressure on Europe
The trade agreement concluded between the United States and China, followed by a 90-day truce had sparked a wave of optimism on the world economy. However, this Friday, May 23, Donald Trump rekindled trade tensions between the United States and the European Union with an unambiguous message published On Truth Social:
Our discussions are not going. Under these conditions, I recommend that I impose 50 % customs duties on the EU, from 1er June.
It openly accuses the European Union of structural commercial imbalances. Thus, he says that “The EU was created in the first place to take advantage of the United States from a commercial point of view”. This declaration, more radical than the previous ones, is part of a context of stagnant negotiations, despite a 90 -day customs truce granted in the spring.
Trump justifies this escalation by a set of economic grievances, detailed in its publication. Here are the tension points raised by the American president:
- The trade deficit: estimated by Trump between 300 and 350 billion dollars. Official American data (USTR) assess it at $ 235 billion, while the European Commission speaks of 150 billion euros for goods, and 50 billion if the services are included.
- Customs and tax barriers: Trump denounces “Trade barriers”unfavorable European VAT, and non -tariff restrictions.
- Regulatory pressures on American companies: he quotes “Ridiculous sanctions”unjustified proceedings and behaviors deemed discriminatory against American societies operating in Europe.
- A progressive price increase: since his return, Trump has already increased customs duties to 12.5 %, after a first increase of 10 % in early April. The 50 % threshold would represent a major break.
The discussions between American representatives and European officials, notably Maros Sefcovic on the European side and Scott Bessent, Howard Lunick and Jamieson Greer on the American side, are deemed unsuccessful.
This impasse fuels the idea that this customs threat is not just an announcement effect, but a direct pressure strategy to bend Brussels.
The immediate repercussions of Trump's announcement
The reaction of the markets was not long in coming. From the opening of Wall Street, the price of Bitcoin dropped up to 107,367 dollars, losing almost 4 % in a few hours, before returning to the field slightly.
This brutal movement, widely interpreted as a direct response to Trump announcements, caused position liquidations up to $ 350 million on the derivative market, according to Coinglass data. The total liquidations over 24 hours even exceeded $ 500 million, which affected the entire crypto ecosystem, from Bitcoin to Ethereum.
In addition, analysts agree on an observation: this correction is “Motivated by the headlines”according to the terms of the Skew trader. The tariff threat was perceived as a destabilization factor, which sparked a wave of automatic disengagement on leverage platforms.
This threshold of $ 110,000, considered by several analysts as a strategic resistance zone, is now carefully observed. The Crypto Caesar trader believes that “We have to hold this green area”in reference to a support strip just under this psychological level.
As for Daan Crypto Trades, he note on the social network x this May 23 that “The market clearly does not like commercial uncertainty”and suggests that other tremors are possible if the situation is bogged down.
Beyond the technical reaction, this episode marks a new step in the growing correlation between cryptos in particular bitcoin and the global macroeconomic environment. Trade warfare, formerly perceived as a subject exogenous to these assets, is now capable of provoking brutal movements, comparable to those observed on the stock market.
If Trump's threats came to materialize on 1er June, the impact could be extended, even intensifying. Conversely, a last -minute reversal or compromise could offer a quick rebound. One thing is certain: political volatility has become a structural risk for the Crypto market, in the same way as Fed announcements on rates or inflation figures.
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