Thousands of cars stuck in EU port due to Trump's tariffs
The port of Antwerp-Brugge, one of the largest automotive hubs in the world, has become a giant car park, with thousands of cars, vans, trucks and tractors piled up for shipment to the US. The reason is a sharp drop in exports amid new duties imposed by US President Donald Trump.
Here's What We Know
According to the port, exports of new cars and vans to the US fell 15.9 per cent year-on-year in the first six months of 2025. The decline was particularly pronounced in May, a month after Trump announced new tariffs.
Exports of trucks and heavy machinery - tractors and construction equipment - fell even more sharply, by 31.5 per cent. Given that such machines can be worth more than $100,000, the imposition of a 25 per cent duty makes it uneconomic to ship them to the US.
The Port of Antwerp-Brugge shipped more than 3 million cars worldwide in 2024, and the US is the second largest trading partner after the UK. However, the port's warehouses are now filled with thousands of cars awaiting their fate. The outlook for the second half of the year remains uncertain. Much will depend on whether a trade agreement between the EU and the US can be reached before 1 August.
Before Trump's return to the White House, carmakers paid 2.5 per cent duties on exports to the US. But from April 2025, a further 25% has been added to that rate. Justin Atkin, the port's UK and Ireland spokesman, told The Guardian that compared to crises such as Pandemic or Brexit, the tariff hit was sharper and more unexpected.
In addition, there has been an accumulation of Chinese cars at the port, which could indicate a diversion of flows from the US market - Beijing has also faced trade barriers.
In addition to tariff pressures, ports are suffering from delays caused by bypassing routes through the Red Sea due to armed conflict, as well as an increase in vessel size. As a result, containers remain in port for an average of eight days instead of the usual five.
Interestingly, despite the drop in exports, imports from the US to the Port of Antwerp-Brugge rose by 17 per cent in the first half of the year, mainly due to increased shipments of liquefied natural gas.
Source: TheGuardian