Trump hits customs. Import cars more costly by 25%

U.S. president Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he would impose 25-percent on April 2. customs work on all cars and light trucks imported from abroad. The rate to date was 2.5%. What does this mean for Europe and Poland?

"We'll collect 25% of the duties. But if you are building your car in the United States, there are no duties" - Trump said, announcing his decision in the Oval Office and signing a regulation on this issue. Customs duties are due to enter into force on 2 April, together with "reciprocal duties" intended in explanation to align customs duties with those applied by another countries. Trump described the day as "the day of America's liberation".

Trump estimated that this decision would make abroad companies increase production of cars in the US, and another companies would decision their factories there.

The duties are to bring the budget $100 billion according to Trump. They will be imposed in addition to the existing tariffs. Trump announced that the duties are "permanent" and there will be no exemptions from them.

The text of the Regulation has not yet been published. According to the Vice-President of the White home quoted by Reuter's agency, "for now" car parts subject to USMCA agreement with Canada and Mexico are to be excluded from customs. However, the photograph of the paper signed by Trump shows that certain car parts specified as engines and engine parts, electronic components, steering strategy components and gearboxes will be subject to customs duties.

The president besides announced that he would shortly besides impose further duties on imports of medicines and wood.

He one more time complained about the European Union's commercial practices, claimed that the sale of American cars in Europe was "almost impossible" and accused her of politically motivated anti-trust activities against American digital giants.

"They usage it like customs," Trump said.

He besides argued that he understood the opinion of U.S. Vice president J.D. Vance, expressed in the late revealed group chat in Signal, who opposed the hit on Huti in Yemen, due to the fact that Europe will benefit most from the beginning of the trade way across the Red Sea.

According to Tradeimex, Mexico is the largest car exporter to the USA, which accounts for almost 25% of the cars imported there and which, like Canada (13%), has factories of American car manufacturers in its territory. The following places are Japan (18.6%), South Korea (17.3%). From European countries, the largest exporters are Germany, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Italy and Sweden.

Poland is not a crucial origin of imported finished cars, but exports a large number of parts and accessories, which amounted to $311 million in 2024.

Early in March, Trump decided to hold the entry into force of customs duties on cars and parts from Mexico and Canada at the request of American automotive companies, who warned that duties would importantly increase both the cost of production of cars - due to the fact that during the production of parts, they repeatedly cross the border - as well as American consumers. Economists predicted that only tariffs on Canada and Mexico could rise car prices by up to $12,000.

According to CBS, about half the cars in the US are imported cars.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)