Wednesday (26.03.25). The US president Donald Trump announces the enforcement dictatorial 25% in imported cars, expanding the trade war that began after returning to the White House.
«What we will do is impose 25% duties on all cars not manufactured in the US“, Donald Trump told the Oval Office.
The news is causing turmoil in international markets. Europe, Canada and Brazil are talking about a “war”, with Japan warning, in fact, that it will reciprocate “proper” measures. At the same time toyota, Nissan, Honda and Hyundai see their shares fall.
The US Republican president sees duties as a tool for increasing revenue that will offset the tax cuts it has announced, while rejuvenating the country’s declining industrial base.
In 2024 the US imported $ 220 billion in passenger cars and a car items worth $ 474 billion. The largest suppliers were Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Germany.
Commission: We are deeply sorry for Trump duties
The EU is sorry for Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25% duty on European vehicles imported by his country.
This night Wednesday night, European Commission President Ursula von der Laene was highlighted via X yesterday.
“I am deeply sorry for the US decision,” Ms. von der Layen noted, adding that Brussels “will continue to seek solutions through negotiations” with Washington.
Japan predicts a ‘big impact’ on the global economy
The Japanese government has warned against the “big impact” of US President Donald Trump’s attack, by imposing additional customs duties, on the US and Japanese trade and economic relations, as well as in the global economy as a whole.
“We believe that these measures (…) and other general restrictions on trade imposed by the US government may have a major impact on economic relations between Japan and the US, as well as the global economy and the multilateral trade system,” said Japanese spokesmen.
The additional customs customs duties 25% In Japanese imported cars announced by Washington is evolving ‘Extremely sad’the government spokesman noted a little earlier when informing the accredited editors.
“It is extremely sad that the US government has announced these tariff measures (…) that include Japan,” he insisted.
The prime minister of Japan Sigerou Isiba made it clear that Tokyo intends to reciprocate with “appropriate” measuresadding that “all” options will be examined, addressing Parliament.
‘Attack’ in Canada The duties
US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25% customs duties on imported vehicles is “direct attack” on Canadian workers, Canadian prime minister said Wednesday. Mark Carni.
“Customs duties at the expense of our car industry is directly attacking workers” in Canada, said new liberal and prime minister leader addressing reporters, accusing Republican President Donald Trump of “It betrays the ‘free trade agreement entered into the two countries and Mexico.
Brazil does not ‘do nothing’
The Brazilian President Luis Inasiou Lula da Silva He said today that his country “can’t do nothing” in front of the attack he has launched by imposing duties by US counterpart Donald Trump, expanding on Wednesday in the automotive industry.
“We can’t do nothing” as “they are the only ones who are right and have the opportunity to tariff the products of others,” Lula said during a press conference on the sidelines of his official visit to Tokyo.
In Brasilia “we will adopt the approach that will be beneficial to Brazil in our opinion,” he added.
Falling the shares of Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai
Japanese and South Korean car giants, from Toyota to Hyundai, see their securities prices on the capital markets falling after the Asian stock markets have been opened, following the announcement of the imposition of additional customs duties on imported vehicles.
About 02:10 (Greek time) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the titles of the big names in the sector were all falling: Toyota (–3.72%), Mitsubishi (–3.7%), Nissan (–3.2%), Honda (–2.77%). The general index also had a downward trend, though not so spectacular (–0.79%). In Seoul, the shares of Hyundai Motor (–3.15%) and Kia Corporation (–2%) were on a similar orbit.
US President Donald Trump added Wednesday new sector of activity in the trade war to all Azimuths he has launched, announcing additional tariffs of imported cars by 25%.
The duties will be implemented “on all vehicles that are not manufactured in the US” and will be in place “April 2”.
Japan is particularly vulnerable. Last year, the automaker entered 28% of the goods of Japanese origin exported to the US, or $ 40 billion somewhere.
And the car industry It is a pillar of Japanese economy, 10% of its workforce is employed in it.
For the Japanese Giant Toyota, No. 1 worldwide, in front of its big opponent, the German Volkswagen, the US is a completely critical market. Japanese manufacturers also have a great presence in Mexico, in the context of interrelated industry production chains.
Every year, Japanese manufacturers export some 1.37 million vehicles in the US, Although they are far from their climax at 3.43 million points in 1986, Massanori Katagiama, president of Jama, the Japan Automotion Association, reminded last week.
They would have to follow the production of production in the event of duties, Mr Katagama warned.
Toyota recently announced that from April Production will begin in its 11th in a row in the US. However, of its 2.33 million vehicles sorted in the US last year, only 1.27 million were produced there.
Toyota also has a factory in Canada (hybrids) and two more in Mexico, with their production mainly intended for the US market, which means that tariff barriers will hit them hard.
As if the additional tariffs on the products imported from Canada and Mexico – have been suspended for the time being – are re -implemented, its vehicles imported from these two countries in the US will be charged 50%duties.
Cars represent 27% of South Korean exports to the US. Of the 2.78 million vehicles exported from South Korea last year, about 1.43 million were destined for the US market and value of some $ 35 billion.
To calm down the Trump government and mitigate as much as possible the impact of duties, Hyundai announced Monday that it aims to invest $ 21 billion in the US over the next four years.