Trump imposes 25% tariffs on auto imports
03/30/2025 / By Laura Harris
- President Donald Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on all foreign-made cars and auto parts (excluding U.S.-built vehicles) to boost domestic manufacturing, effective April 3 (May 3 for key components like engines).
- Trump claims the policy will restore U.S. industrial independence, create jobs and generate $100 billion annually, criticizing reliance on cross-border supply chains.
- The tariffs exclude U.S.-made content under the USMCA, maintaining exemptions for Mexico and Canada (temporarily).
- Part of a wider economic agenda, including 20 percent tariffs on Chinese imports (blaming fentanyl production), 25 percent on steel/aluminum and proposed levies on chips, drugs and lumber.
- Despite foreign criticism, Trump expanded tariffs on allies and plans new ones (e.g., 25 percent on Venezuelan oil importers), potentially disrupting global trade and energy markets.
President Donald Trump has imposed 25 percent new tariffs on all foreign-made cars and auto parts imported into the U.S. to strengthen domestic manufacturing and restore U.S. industrial independence.
In a press conference at the Oval Office on March 26, Trump announced that the new tariffs, set to take effect April 3 at 12:01 a.m. ET, target vehicles and components shipped from abroad, excluding those built domestically, to bolster U.S. auto production. The policy also imposes tariffs on critical parts like engines and transmissions, with those levies beginning by May 3.
“Frankly, friend has been oftentimes much worse than foe,” Trump said before signing the executive proclamation in the Oval Office that day. “What we’re going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If they’re made in the United States, it’s absolutely no tariff.” (Related: Trump grants one-month tariff exemption for auto imports from Mexico, Canada amid industry concerns.)
Moreover, Trump, who campaigned on lowering prices ahead of his 2024 re-election, insisted the tariffs would ultimately create jobs. “This is permanent,” he declared, criticizing what he called a “ridiculous” supply chain where parts and vehicles are manufactured across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. He even believes that this will generate $100 billion in annual revenue.
“This will continue to spur growth,” Trump said. “We’ll effectively be charging a 25 percent tariff.”
The tariffs apply to both finished vehicles and parts, with exemptions for U.S. content under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. The move relies on a 2019 Commerce Department investigation that justified tariffs on national security grounds during the first Trump administration.
Trump has been imposing tariffs across various sectors since taking office in January
These auto tariffs are part of a broader plan to reshape global relations.
For instance, Trump slapped a 20 percent tariff on all Chinese imports due to China’s role in the production of fentanyl, a deadly opioid fueling America’s addiction crisis. Meanwhile, Canadian energy products face a lower 10 percent duty, though broader trade disputes remain unresolved.
He also reinstated and expanded his 2018 metals tariffs, imposing a 25 percent duty on all steel and aluminum imports, removing exemptions that had previously spared some allies. Now, Trump is eyeing additional levies on critical goods, including computer chips (25 percent), pharmaceutical drugs (25 percent) and lumber and copper (25 percent).
Additionally, Trump intends to impose 25 percent tariffs on countries that import oil from Venezuela, despite the U.S. itself being a buyer of Venezuelan crude. The policy appears to further isolate President Nicolás Maduro’s regime but risks complicating global energy markets.
Follow Trump.news for the latest updates, exclusive insights and in-depth coverage on this topic and similar stories.
Watch the full episode of the “Health Ranger Report” with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Maxime Bernier as they discuss the Canada-U.S. trade war, immigration policies and calls for a populist revolution in Canada amid post-Trudeau political shifts.
This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
TARIFF WAR LOOMS: Trump warns Trudeau of more tariffs following Canada’s retaliation.
INSANE TARIFFS over TWO HUNDRED PERCENT are actually coming from Canada’s exports to USA imposed on milk, whey, cheese and butter.
Trump stands firm on tariffs: Mexico, Canada, and China face new trade measures over fentanyl crisis.
Sources include:
Submit a correction >>
Tagged Under:
auto industry, big government, Bubble, chaos, economy, foreign relations, market crash, products, risk, supply chain, tariffs, trade wars, Trump
This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
RECENT NEWS & ARTICLES
