Thousands of vehicles accumulating at European ports, and the situation may deteriorate further | Carscoops

      Months after Trump imposed tariffs, they continue to disrupt the auto industry.

      

      

      The busy Port of Antwerp-Bruges usually exports over 3 million vehicles annually.

      However, on August 1, the US may implement broad 30 percent tariffs on imports from Europe.

      During the first half of 2025, exports from this port to the US decreased by 15.9 percent.

      Trade tensions are creating waves in Europe’s automobile sector, with the consequences becoming increasingly apparent. At ports throughout the continent, thousands of new vehicles are stalled, awaiting shipment to the United States.

      Automakers are still hoping that President Donald Trump might reduce or even eliminate the impending round of tariffs. However, such optimism seems unfounded, and the backlog of vehicles keeps rising.

      Recent statistics highlight a distinct effect. Exports of new passenger cars from Belgium’s Port of Antwerp-Bruges to the US have fallen by 15.9 percent in the first half of this year. As one of the world’s busiest automotive shipping hubs, the port managed over 3 million vehicles in 2024, making the drop particularly noteworthy.

      Currently, the port is home to thousands of vehicles from European manufacturers like BMW and Smart. The facility has indicated that the outlook for the remainder of the year “remains uncertain” and “will depend on whether a trade agreement between the EU and the US can be finalized by August 1.”

      A Shift in Dynamics

      In an interview with The Guardian, Justin Atkin, the UK and Irish representative for the port, remarked that the tariffs have had an immediate and profound impact on various industries.

      “With the pandemic, we had lockdowns, then we emerged from lockdown, only to face more restrictions, and people adapted after being unprepared,” he explained. “In this case, while tariffs were discussed leading up to Trump, the extent and immediacy of the actions took everyone by surprise.”

      It's not solely the car exports from the port that have decreased this year. Exports of “high and heavy equipment,” such as construction vehicles and tractors, have also dropped by approximately 31.5 percent to the United States.

      New Tariffs on the Horizon as Negotiations Stall

      Conditions may worsen before improving. Despite ongoing discussions between the US and the European Union, a new trade agreement remains elusive. This led Trump to announce earlier this week that new 30 percent tariffs will come into effect on the EU starting August 1. Although this tariff will be separate from sector-specific tariffs on cars and steel, it threatens to further strain international trade relations and could exacerbate the accumulation of vehicles at major ports.