This new fee, which is in addition to existing tariffs, will take effect on April 3 at 12:01 a.m. EDT (04:01 GMT).
During a press conference in the Oval Office, Trump declared: "Honestly, sometimes allies can be more harmful than adversaries. We're going to impose a 25% tariff on all vehicles not manufactured in the United States."The president added: "I believe our automotive industry will flourish like never before.".
The measure will affect cars and light trucks manufactured in countries with which the United States has free trade agreements, such as Canada, Mexico and South KoreaIt will also impact Japanese and European manufacturers, including those in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
In addition to complete vehicles, tariffs will apply to essential automotive components such as engines, transmissions, and electrical parts. However, the implementation of tariffs on parts could be delayed by up to a month, with a deadline of May 3.
White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf informed Trump that the move is expected to generate around 100 one billion dollars in revenue. However, trade and automotive industry experts warn that these unilateral tariffs could violate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS).
The news has caused a drop in the shares of major automakers, both American and foreign. Domestic companies, such as Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, also express concern about the impact these tariffs will have on the automotive supply chain.
Economic analysts estimate that car prices could rise by up to $12.200 on some models due to new tariffs. This could lead to a decline in vehicle sales and negatively impact economic growth.
Trump justifies this measure as part of his tariff-focused economic strategy for his second term, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing. However, research conducted during his first term indicated that the financial burden of the tariffs fell largely on American businesses and consumers.
The implementation of these new tariffs marks a significant escalation in Trump's trade policy and is expected to generate additional tensions with US trading partners in the coming days.
Repercussions for Spain of this new decision by the US administration
Trump's decision to impose 25% tariffs on imported vehicles will have a significant impact on the Spanish automotive industry, although less severe than in other European countries.
According to an analysis by Oxford Economics, Spanish automotive exports are estimated to fall by 2.4% as a result of these tariffs. This figure, although worrying, is considerably smaller than the projected declines for Germany (7.1%) and Italy (6.6%).
The main reason for this relatively minor impact is Spain's lower dependence on the US market compared to its European counterparts. Only 6% of Spanish automotive exports outside the EU go to the United States, compared to 24% for Germany and 30% for Italy.
However, the Spanish automotive sector, which represents a significant portion of the country's economy, will be negatively affected. Spanish manufacturers such as SEAT (part of the Volkswagen Group) and the production plants of other European brands in Spain could face challenges in terms of production volume and possible workforce adjustments.
Furthermore, the interconnectedness of European supply chains means that any disruption in the German or Italian automotive industry could have indirect effects on Spanish production.
Analysts warn that these tariffs could lead to a re-evaluation of production and export strategies by European manufacturers, including Spanish ones, potentially affecting future investment in the sector.
The Spanish automotive industry and the Spanish government will likely seek support from the European Union to negotiate with the United States and mitigate the impact of these tariffs. However, the situation remains uncertain, and the sector is preparing for a period of volatility and possible structural adjustments.
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