BBC news reporters, BBC news
United States President Donald Trump has announced new taxes on 25% imports in cars and car pieces arriving in the United States in a movement that threatens to expand the world trade.
Trump said that the last rates would take effect on April 2, with charges in companies that matter vehicles from the following day. The charges of the parts begin in May or later.
The President stated that the measure would lead to « enormous growth » for the automotive industry, promising that it would promote jobs and investments in the United States.
But analysts have said that the measure is likely to lead to the temporary blackout of the meaningful production of vehicles in the United States, to increase prices and tension relationships with the Allies.
The United States imported about eight million cars last year, representing about $ 240 million ($ 186 million) in trade and about half the general sales.
Mexico is the highest cars in the United States, followed by South Korea, Japan, Canada and Germany. Trump’s last play threatens with most of the car trade and vehicle supply chains.
Many North -American car companies also have operations in Mexico and Canada, established according to the terms of the long -term free trade agreement between the three countries.
The White House said that the order would be applied not only to finished cars, but also to the pieces of the car, which are often sent from other countries before meeting in the United States.
However, the new rates in the parts of Canada and Mexico are exempt while the US customs and border patrol make up a system for evaluating homework, the White House said. Neighborhood countries see that the goods of billions believe the borders every day.
On Wednesday, General Motors shares dropped by about 3%. The sale was extended to other companies, including Ford, after the president’s observations while confirming the rates.
Asked at a press conference if there was any possibility to reverse the course, Trump said no, adding later: « This is permanent. »
« If you build the car in the United States, there is no rate, » he said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said his government would put « all options on the table » in response to rates.
Japan, which houses several large engine industry giants, is the second largest car exporter in the world.
Actions in Japanese vehicle manufacturers, including Toyota, Nissan, Honda, fell into the early trade in Tokyo.
Pictures of gettyA rate is a tax on imports collected by a government and is paid by the company that matters good.
Trump has adopted the tool, seeking to apply it to a series of goods that are imported to the United States as part of a wider impulse to protect North -American companies and promote manufacturing.
But while measures can protect national companies, they also increase costs for companies that depend on foreign parts, as is the case with vehicle manufacturers.
Analysts have estimated that the cost of a car could increase thousands of dollars, with 25% rates to the parts of Mexico and Canada, which added a cost of $ 4,000 to $ 10,000, according to the vehicle, according to the economic group Anderson.
« Direct attack »
Import taxes of fresh cars in cars will come into force on the same day as so -called reciprocal rates start by individual countries based on their commercial relationship with the United States.
It is not clear how car rates can affect these plans.
But many countries, including the United Kingdom, are concerned that their exporters are affected as a result of new taxes.
The United States was the highest sales market for Jaguar Land Rover in the British base last year, with the vehicle maker who sold 116,294 vehicles in Americans, surpassing sales to customers in the United Kingdom and China.
The United Kingdom government is in talks with the North -American Administration and is still hoping for a trade agreement before the rates come into force, understands the BBC.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Trump’s announcement a « direct attack » to his country and his car industry.
« This will hurt us, but during this period being together we will be stronger, » he said.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the bloc would consider the measures before any potential response.
« As I said before, rates are taxes, bad for companies, worse for equal consumers in the United States and the European Union, » he said.
« The EU will continue to look for negotiated solutions, while safeguarding their economic interests. »
For the UK, the United States is the second largest vehicle export market after the EU, with cars mainly luxury Sent to the Atlantic, according to the body of the industry, the Society of Manufacturers and Motor Trademers (SMMT).
Mike Hawes, the CEO of the SMMT, urged governments in the United Kingdom and the United States to « meet immediately and make an agreement that works for all. »
The car industry was already pending with extensive rates on steel and aluminum that Trump launched earlier this month.
In recent weeks, major vehicle companies such as Ford and General Motors have urged the President to exempt the industry from any other homework.
A 2024 U.S. International Commerce Study Study He provided for a 25%rate to imports to reduce almost 75%, while increasing average prices in the United States by about 5%.
But Trump has proceeded with the movement, which is a renaissance of an action he considered for the first time during his first term in the White House.
White House officials said that they wanted to see that North -Americans would make more parts, not simply mount them and have kept their action is to push companies to move.
One day before the last rates, the South Korean Carma giant -Coreà Hyundai announced that he would invest $ 21 million (£ 16.3 million) in the United States and build a new steel plant in southern Louisiana state.
Trump greeted the investment as a « clear demonstration that the rates work very strongly. »
Shawn Fain, leader of the United Autoworkers Sindica, who had opposed Trump in the election, praised the President’s actions, saying that he « advanced to end the free trade disaster that has devastated the working class communities for decades. »
Any other place, the head of the American Automotive Policy Commerce, Matt Blunt, said: « North Automobile Manufacturers -Americans are committed to President Trump’s vision of increasing the production of cars and jobs in the United States. »
Leave a Reply