U.S. introduce 25% additional customs duty on imported cars as of April 2
The U.S. President activates the turbo on import tariffs with a new 25% surcharge on vehicles manufactured outside the U.S. as of April 2.
Trade war is accelerating. On Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Donald Trump announced the imposition of additional 25% customs duties on all cars and commercial vehicles not manufactured in the United States and imported into the United States from April 2, 2025. These 25% taxes will be added to the existing duties, which will increase the rate from 2.5% to 27.5%. China, already supported by heavy 100% surcharges on its electric cars since September 2024 (cf.USA/China: New increase in US tariffs on Chinese products), will see this rate explode at 125%. These measures, which are likely to upset global automotive trade and supply chains, have been confirmed by theDecreeby the Trump administration.
This decision by the United States President has already received strong reactions from many countries. Countermeasures could be quickly put in place, notably by Japan, Brazil and the European Union.
The Twenty-Seven have already embarked on a two-step countermeasure plan in retaliation for the US 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum since 12 March 2025 (cf.US tariffs on steel and aluminium: Brussels counterattack). Indeed, the European Commission decided to allow the suspension of the countermeasures it had already put in place between 2018 and 2020, under Donald Trump's first mandate, to expire on 1 April in response to its first attack on steel and aluminium. The second phase of this plan, targeting new US product categories, is currently being finalized. Onesecond list of productshas been drawn up and, following a public consultation up to 26 March, the Commission is now working on the final list of goods to be released in the near future.
There is also another major milestone in the US trade war on the horizon, on the pivotal date of 2 April: the introduction of reciprocal tariffs promised for several months by Donald Trump. It remains to be seen whether this threat, which should be particularly complicated to manage by the US customs administration, will be implemented.