United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a 25 percent tariff on imported cars and light trucks.
Trump says he is returning wealth to the United States, saying foreign countries have robbed them at an unprecedented level.
“They’ve taken so much from our country, friend and foe. And frankly, friend has often been much worse than foe. And that’s very modest,” he told reporters in the Oval Office.
“What we’re going to do is put a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If they’re made in the United States, there’s no tariff,” he said.
The auto tariffs will take effect April 2. The 25 percent tariff will be in addition to all the tariffs already imposed on auto imports.
It is unclear how the tariffs will be enforced, given that many cars made in the US are made from imported parts, but Trump has promised to have “very strong police” behind his order.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed regret over Trump’s move and the imposition of tariffs on car exports from the European Union to the US.
“Tariffs are taxes, bad for businesses, even worse for consumers, in the US and the EU,” she said.
She announced that the EU would continue to seek negotiated solutions while protecting its economic interests.
