U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on imported automobiles beginning April 2, as part of broader trade measures that include levies on Chinese imports and metal products.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Trump said the tariffs would cover all imported vehicles rather than targeting specific components. “Maybe around April 2,” Trump said when asked about the timeline. “I would have done them on April 1, but we’re going to do it on April 2.”
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The administration is also set to release reports on April 1 outlining tariffs imposed by other nations on U.S. goods, aiming to establish reciprocal duties. “We applaud President Trump’s idea to look at all vehicle imports to the U.S., an important step forward,” Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley said in a post on X. “Comprehensive trade policies are imperative to achieving the president’s vision to strengthen the U.S. auto industry.”
We applaud President Trump’s idea to look at all vehicle imports to the U.S., an important step forward. Comprehensive trade policies are imperative to achieving the president’s vision to strengthen the U.S. auto industry. https://t.co/kPNcpdDYjs
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) February 14, 2025
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The announcement follows a series of recent tariff actions. This week, Trump introduced a 25% tariff on imported steel and aluminum, set to take effect on March 12.
He also delayed plans for a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian non-energy products by one month, in exchange for increased military cooperation on border security. Additionally, a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports has been implemented alongside existing trade restrictions.