Thousands of vehicles destined for the United States are currently stranded at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, as the fallout from President Donald Trump’s recent automotive tariffs begins to bite into EU exports.
In March, President Trump introduced a 25% import tariff on foreign-made cars and their components entering the US, citing the need to revive the domestic car industry. The decision, part of a broader “America First” agenda, has already had immediate and significant consequences for one of Europe’s largest logistics hubs.
According to figures released by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, exports of passenger cars and vans to the US have dropped by 14.3% since May. Exports of trucks—including tractors and construction vehicles—have declined even more steeply, by 31.5%.
The Belga News Agency reports a “sharp decline” in vehicle exports to the US since the tariffs came into effect in early April. The Guardian described the port as having “turned into a giant car park”, as thousands of unsold vehicles now await either re-routing or diplomatic breakthroughs.
“The tariff impact has been more of an instant shock than Brexit,” said Justin Atkin, the UK and Ireland representative for the port. “People discussed tariffs, but few expected the scale and suddenness of their implementation.”
Despite the slump in vehicle exports, overall trade with the US remains resilient. The port authority reported a 17.2% rise in total trade volume with the US in the first half of 2025, reaching 16.4 million tonnes. This growth was driven largely by increased imports of American liquid natural gas.
Yet the port is straining under more than just tariff-related pressure. A convergence of external factors—including labour strikes, unusually low water levels on the Rhine and Panama Canals, and instability in the Middle East—has created logistical bottlenecks across terminals.
“Terminal congestion, caused by an interaction between logistical challenges and market developments, continues to be felt, as in the rest of North-West Europe,” the port authority noted in its half-yearly report.
Further complicating the issue is the delay in infrastructure expansion. The much-anticipated Extra Container Capacity Antwerp (ECA) project is not expected to deliver a new operational quay until 2032. This means long wait times for container ships and limited parking space for both cars and containers will persist.
Much now hinges on the outcome of EU-US negotiations. The port authority expressed hope that an agreement by August 1 could bring “more certainty and predictability to the supply chain.”
Until then, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges remains gridlocked—its vast lots filled with cars that may not reach American roads anytime soon.
