Donald Trump announces customs duties up to 25 % on « all cars » made outside the United States-Liberation
« We are going to charge countries that do business in our country and take our wealth. » After steel and aluminum, pending construction wood or copper, Donald Trump as planned announced this evening on Wednesday, March 26, in the evening a new sector of activity to his list, confirming customs duties in the automotive sector promised for a long time. The American president announced prices of up to 25 % from April 2 on « All cars that are not made in the United States ». « We will start with a 2.5 %base, which is currently the case, and we will go to 25 % », He said from the White House. While the manufacturers and equipment manufacturers still hoped for exceptions, Trump has not expressed any interest in negotiating.
« If they are manufactured in the United States, there will be absolutely no customs duties »added the US head of state. « This is added to the already existing customs duties on these goods »said an advisor. Donald Trump has long promised higher customs duties on imported cars, and the moment chosen for this announcement suggests that they will coincide with its reciprocal customs rights projects on April 2, intended for countries responsible for most of the United States trade deficit. The administration provides that these rights will generate $ 100 billion in new annual revenue for the country.
This decision will receive certain states in particular. According to US trade data, Mexico has exported to the United States for $ 78.5 billion in cars, Japan 39.7 billion, South Korea 36.6 billion and Canada 31.2 billion. For Germany, which exported up to 24.8 billion dollars last year, It’s a new blow, After the contraction of the juicy Chinese market for its manufacturers and the delay taken by some of its marks on electrification.
Particularly affected by these announcements, Audi, who has no factories in the United States, said on Tuesday that she was thinking about « The way in which we will have to pass at least part of the prices on our customers, in the form of price increases » and that she was looking for a « Just medium » Between price increases and production adjustment. Problem, the brand is also in difficulty in Europe, where it sold in January-February 2025 3.5 % less than during the same period last year, according to ACEA.
Another particularly worried brand from the Rhine, Mercedes-Benz is considering importing vehicles from South Africa, which has franchise access to the United States. « I have never seen such a complex environment … Key skill today is flexibility », Last week said Mercedes-Benz production director Joerg Burzer.
More information to come.
