The Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) warns of immense economic consequences of the announced US car tariffs. The tariffs that are supposed to come into force at the beginning of April represented a significant burden for both companies and the closely interwoven global supply chains of the automotive industry, said VDA President Hildegard Müller (57). They would have negative consequences for consumers, also in North America.
Customs also have the US economy
“The consequences will cost growth and prosperity on all sides,” said Müller. Additional tariffs had significant negative effects on exports from the EU into the USA, but also have the US economy. Müller called for a bilateral agreement between the United States and the EU. “Discussions about legal regulations, norms and certifications would also be desirable – this would bring advantages for both sides of the Atlantic and increase efficiency on both sides,” said the association president.
According to the VDA, 86 percent of the automotive medium -sized companies expect the US tariffs against numerous states and regions. At the same time, the United States is an important part of the German car industry production network: According to VDA, German manufacturers produced over 844,000 vehicles there, according to VDA, of which around half were exported all over the world.
25 percent tariffs from the first April
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump (78) announced tariffs of 25 percent on car imports from abroad. The tariffs should apply to all cars that have not been produced in the USA, said Trump in the White House. From April 3 at 00:01 a.m. (local time, 05.01 CET) they have to be paid. Auto parts are also said to be affected by the surcharges. The step was sharply criticized internationally.
Trump also threatened the EU and Canada With further surcharges, you should work together for the “economic damage” of the United States. “If the European Union Worked with Canada to add economic damage to the USA, both are tackled with high tariffs, much higher than previously planned, to protect the best friend that both countries have ever had! ”, Trump wrote on Thursday in his online network Truth Social.
Almost every third Porsche and every sixth BMW were sold in North America in 2024, at VW, Audi And Mercedes-Benz was 12 to 15 percent each.