President Donald Trump said that he “nevertheless cared” if international car manufacturers increased prices due to his 25% prices on all foreign manufacturing parts and imported vehicles announced several days ago.
This decision – which was censored by car manufacturers and foreign leaders and has led to the decline in actions of actions for companies like General Motors and Ford, according to the Associated Press – increased tensions in an imminent trade war. The American Automotive Policy Council representing national car manufacturers said in a press release that “it is essential that prices are implemented in a way that avoids increasing consumer prices and which preserves the competitiveness of the integrated North American automotive sector.”
In a sprawling interview with NBC News, Trump argued: “The message is congratulations, if you make your car in the United States, you will earn a lot of money. If you don’t, you will probably have to come to the United States, because if you do your car in the United States, there is no price. ”
Asked if he had summoned American CEOs from the automotive industry to tell them not to increase prices, as The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump replied: “No, I never said that. I don’t care if they increased prices, because people will start buying American manufacturing cars. I hope they are increasing their prices, because if they do it, people will buy American manufacturing cars. We have a lot.”
He concluded: “No, I don’t care, because if prices on foreign cars increase, they will buy American cars.”
As indicated above, foreign automotive parts assembled at the national level would always see a 25%tax. Companies that import vehicles under the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement, the free trade agreement established during the first Trump, will remain without a price until the government is establishing a tax withdrawal process, the White House said.
When asked if there was a “place for negotiations” on the prices expected on April 2, Trump replied: “Only if people are ready to give us something of great value. Because countries have great things, if not, there is no room for negotiation. ”
