The Hessenmetall employers’ association has commented on the import duties announced by US President Donald Trump on cars. In 2024, motor vehicles and auto parts worth more than 200 million euros were exported from Hesse to the USA, Hessenmetall managing director Dirk Pollert said on Friday. “Although these were just a little more than three percent of the total of Hessian exports of these products, the effect of such a trade policy is significantly more serious than it looks at first glance due to the international interdependencies.” If, for example, car manufacturers in other federal states sell fewer vehicles in the USA because of the tariffs, their demand for components from Hesse should also decrease. Deliveries of Hessian auto parts to Mexico or Canada are also not recorded in the three percent. Because vehicles are mainly built there for the US market, the planned tariffs will also affect these exports. More on the THE THESTALAUS The State Statistical Office in Hesse at the turn of the year 41,000 employees dealt with the production of motor vehicles and auto parts. In addition to the employees of suppliers, the approximately 7,700 employees of Opel and Stellantis in Rüsselsheim also fall. However, no vehicles are made there for the US market, and President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday to drastically raise the import duties on cars. So far, they are at 2.5 percent, and 25 percentage points should come on top of April 3. In May, import duties are to follow “certain auto parts”, as the White House announced. The decree of engines, engine parts, gearbox, gear circuit and electrical components signed by Trump are mentioned in the decree signed by Trump. This list could still be extended, the decree says.
Go to source