US President Donald Trump announces additional tariffs of 25 percent to all auto imports and thus tightens the trade dispute with the European Union. The United States is a piggy bank from which every claw, said the Republican, who has been complaining about retailing with other countries for a long time. The German auto industry in particular should take the punitive measures hard. The most important questions about this:
What do the new tariffs look like?
The tariffs apply to all imported cars – from small cars to limousines and SUVs to light commercial vehicles. The import customs are also due for central auto parts. The high tariffs should come into force on April 3, as it was said from the White House. Trump had previously spoken of April 2, but also said that the United States would only collect from April 3. In the arrangement published later, it was said that the penalty taxes for auto parts could come into force a little later – but in any case until May 3.
The tariffs are also collected in addition to existing tariffs. Importers from Canada and Mexico can prove that their products contain US shares, so that customs are only applied to the non-US share.
Why does Trump impose tariffs?
Trump wants to strengthen the United States as a production location with the tariffs and reduce trade deficits. Car groups that already had factories in the United States could count themselves lucky, he said. Because only those who produce in the United States do not have to pay punishment. Sometimes your own friends are the greatest fraudsters, Trump’s trade advisor, Peter Navarro, complained, and thus alluded to Germany and Japan.
The United States imports a significant part of motor vehicles, engines and other car parts. The imports of vehicles and car parts clearly exceed the exports. The most important suppliers include Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Germany.
What bothers Trump especially on the EU?
Trump repeatedly complains publicly about the European Union – so now at his customs announcement. “One of the reasons why I introduce tariffs is that we take millions of their cars-BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz,” said the 78-year-old. At the same time, due to further trade barriers, it was “almost impossible” to import US cars into the EU.
The fact is: While the United States only raises 2.5 percent inches on EU cars, the EU requires 10 percent on US auto imports. However, the US tariffs on pickups and light commercial vehicles are significantly higher with 25 percent. Trump is also bothered by other EU regulations such as strict emissions and security standards. Again and again he also criticizes the VAT raised in Europe. However, this is not very valid – among other things, because US auto imports are subject to the same conditions as European vehicles in terms of VAT.
What do the tariffs mean for Germany?
Customs imports on vehicle imports are likely to put a significant impact on the German auto industry. Because the United States is its most important sales market, as the latest figures in the Federal Statistical Office show. No other country decreased as many new cars from Germany in 2024: with a share of 13.1 percent, they were ahead of exports, followed by Great Britain (11.3 percent) and France (7.4 percent). German automobile manufacturers also produce cars in the USA to a large extent to avoid tariffs.
How will the EU react?
The EU Commission, which is responsible for European trade policy, is still ready to talk. In the event that the United States does not come to the negotiating table, it wants to strike back. A spokesman said in Brussels on Thursday that countermeasures with “maximum effect” were prepared.
What is specifically planned?
In order to make concrete calculations difficult for the US President, the EU is silent. It has already been announced that the special tariffs currently exposed to US products such as jeans, bourbon whiskey, motorcycles and peanut butter will be reintroduced in mid-April. However, this is the response to the US special tariffs already applicable to steel and aluminum imports that came into force two weeks ago. Additional measures could take other US goods, but theoretically also services.
From the European Parliament there are already demands for a threat of measures against American tech companies such as Google, Amazon or Netflix. “Customs duties on digital services in which the United States have a large market interest at the EU should come to the table,” said Bernd Lange, chairman of the trade committee in the European Parliament.
A threat of EU tariffs on digital services may also be helpful because they would meet the platform X of the Trump supporter Elon Musk.
How could it go on now?
In a less bad scenario, Trump could quickly be convinced to temporarily suspend the tariffs – and then start negotiations. This was last the case with Canada and Mexico. But now neither Trump nor his consultant sounded willing to negotiate. The new tariffs are “permanent,” said the US President. Navarro was similar.
In the EU it is also expected that in addition to the car tariffs, numerous other new tariffs are also imposed on imports. Trump has been talking about the April 2 – on which he wants to announce a large -scale customs package – will be a “day of liberation” for the country.
According to information from the German Press Agency, the EU Commission informed the Member States on Wednesday that they should adapt to corresponding decisions. For example, you could meet pharmaceutical manufacturers and food producers from the EU.
Didn’t the EU try to avert the customs conflict?
But. In the past few days there have been talks from the responsible EU commissioner Maros Sefcovic with representatives of the US government in Washington. He had tried again to prevent the trade conflict from escalating, but was unable to achieve any tangible success. It is now expected that real negotiations will only begin when the EU responds to the new US tariffs with countermeasures such as retaliatory tariffs. According to current plans, this should be done in mid -April.
Is Trump only about the US production site?
No. Trump specifically uses Zölle as a means of pressure in foreign policy, for example in the fight against unwanted migration. In addition, the EU assumes that Trump needs new income to finance election promises such as tax cuts.
An import customs is a tax that is levied on the border on goods that are introduced from abroad. As a rule, she pays the importing company – so the US companies have to pay the taxes. The aim is to prevent them from importing foreign products.
Experts consider tariffs to be a risky strategy to carry out a trade conflict because this primarily causes consumer prices and thus the normal citizens hit the most. Most recently, Trump’s announcements had triggered turbulence on the stock market. The US Federal Reserve Fed has also corrected its growth forecast for this year.
