In a dramatic policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles. This decisive move ends the long-standing period of low tariffs between traditional allies, effective April 2, and has ignited fierce backlash across Europe.
European leaders and industry experts have wasted no time in condemning the decision. Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, described the move as "a disastrous signal for free and rules-based trade." French leader Emmanuel Macron also decried the tariffs as both economically and geopolitically misguided, stressing the irony of targeting long-established allies.
Trade experts warn that the tariffs will disrupt complex international supply chains, likely raise costs for U.S. consumers, and hamper European exports. Jose Lopez-Tafall, from the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers, labeled the tariffs as clearly negative, while the Czech Automotive Industry Association expressed serious concern about the knock-on effects for European manufacturers and suppliers.
As transatlantic partnerships navigate these choppy economic waters, analysts predict that rising production costs could cascade through the global automotive industry, affecting jobs, consumer prices, and the overall competitiveness of this highly integrated market.
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Trump's 25% tariffs on cars spark fierce backlash from Europe
cgtn.com
