Trump vs. Europe: 25% auto-tariffs and unsalable Ami carts!
Trump vs. Europe: 25% auto-tariffs and unsalable Ami carts!
President Donald Trump presented a comprehensive customs plan on April 3, 2025, which provides for an increase in tariffs to cars from the EU by 25 percent. Trump argues that European manufacturers would disadvantage the American markets and buy too few US vehicles. While almost 450,000 cars from Germany were exported to the United States in 2022, only 136,000 US vehicles went to the EU, as the Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) reports. Trump now wants to tackle this unequal balance with the new tariffs in order to strengthen the United States as a production location and to reduce trade deficits.
The customs of 25 percent not only apply to cars, but also applies to all imported cars including small cars, limousines, SUVs and light commercial vehicles as well as central auto parts. In addition to existing tariffs, it is raised, with the United States so far raising a custom of 2.5 percent on cars from Europe, while the EU raises 10 percent on US vehicles. Trump also said: "We take millions of their cars-BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz".
Objection by experts
In addition, Dudenhöffer makes it clear that the weak sales figures for US manufacturers in Europe are not only due to trade barriers. Stefan Bratzel from the Center of Automotive Management emphasizes that US cars simply do not meet the wishes and preferences of European consumers. Apart from Tesla, which has some problems in Europe, the US manufacturers do not offer competitive small and compact cars that are in demand in Europe.
political reactions in Europe
The reactions to the new tariffs in Europe are consistently negative. Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck describes the measure as bad news for the German automotive industry, which depends considerably on US exports. German manufacturers already produce many models in the USA to avoid tariffs. CDU foreign politician Norbert Norbert Röttgen demands targeted counter-sanctions, while Sahra Wagenknecht stimulates a reduction in US fracking gas on the European market.
The EU Commission has announced that they react determined and protect the interests of European companies. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasizes the need for negotiation solutions and the possibility of further tariffs on imports. The VDA President Hildegard Müller calls the decision a fatal signal for fair trade, which should further fuel the discussion about future trade relationships between the USA and Europe.
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