2 weeks Ago By Tom Ozimek
President Donald Trump is considering potential tariff exemptions for automakers, a White House official confirmed to The Epoch Times on April 23, following weeks of intense lobbying by industry leaders warning of disruptions to supply chains and rising consumer costs. Although the official did not provide specifics, the confirmation comes as automakers and suppliers voice growing concerns over the Trump administration’s 25 percent tariff on imported passenger vehicles and light trucks—effective April 3—and a similar 25 percent tariff on auto parts set to take effect by May 3. “Automaking is America’s largest manufacturing sector,” Bozzella said.
“Automakers, battery makers, and parts suppliers have invested billions in American manufacturing and directly support communities and American workers in Michigan, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Texas, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Georgia, New York, and more.” He said that higher tariffs would raise costs for consumers, reduce U.S.
auto exports, and lower vehicle sales—“all before any new manufacturing or jobs are created in this country.” Meanwhile, the president said on April 23 that the 25 percent tariff imposed on cars imported from Canada could well increase. “I put tariffs on Canada—they’re paying 25 percent—but that could go up, in terms of cars,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“All we’re doing is we’re saying, ‘We don’t want your cars, in all due respect. We want, really, to make our own cars.’”.
