The Guardian: One of the world's largest ports turned into a car park due to Trump's tariffs

One of the largest ports in the world, Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium, has turned into a giant fleet of thousands of cars, vans, trucks and tractors that were to be delivered to the United States. About this writes The Guardian.

Cars are idle because of the trade war that US President Donald Trump has launched against the European Union.

Since April 2025, most European cars have been subject to an additional 25% duty, which increases their cost in the United States by tens of thousands of dollars.

In the first half of 2025, exports of new cars and vans from the port of Antwerp-Bruges to the United States fell by 15.9%. The sharp decline began in May, right after the announcement of "Liberation Day" tariffs .

Exports of trucks and large special equipment (tractors, construction machines) from the port decreased even more – by 31.5%.

The port admits that prospects for the second half of the year remain uncertain, and everything depends on whether a trade agreement between the EU and the US can be reached by August 1.

European automakers – from Volkswagen to Volvo – had hoped that an agreement would be reached last week.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges shipped more than 3 million cars worldwide in 2024.

Port spokesman Justin Atkin said that unlike the pandemic or Brexit, the tariff restrictions were an "unexpected shock" to the industry.

In addition, the situation is complicated by global logistical problems. Due to the conflict in the Red Sea and the growing size of ships, containers remain in the port for up to eight days, although previously they were processed in five.

• According to Eurostat, in the first quarter of 2025, economic growth in the eurozone was below forecasts. Eurozone GDP grew by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter and by 1.2% year-on-year.
• The EU also significantly lowered its economic growth forecast for 2025 due to Trump's tariffs.