President Donald Trump announced plans on Friday to increase tariffs on imported cars and trucks from the European Union to pressure manufacturers to produce more automobiles in America.
European cars and trucks face a 15% tariff, enacted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. Trump had previously set the tariff rate at 25% before lowering it to 15% in August 2025.
“It is fully understood and agreed that, if they produce Cars and Trucks in U.S.A. Plants, there will be NO TARIFF,” the president wrote on Truth Social Friday. “Many Automobile and Truck Plants are currently under construction, with over 100 Billion Dollars being invested, A RECORD in the History of Car and Truck Manufacturing. These Plants, staffed with American Workers, will be opening soon — There has never been anything like what is happening in America today!”
The announcement comes just one day after Trump said he would drop all tariffs related to the import of Scottish whisky after a state visit from King Charles III.
Trump has largely avoided raising tariffs on U.S. trading partners after the Supreme Court ruled that his so-called reciprocal tariffs were unconstitutional, but he has openly sparred with European leaders since the launch of the war in Iran in late February.
TRUMP DROPS TARIFFS ON SCOTTISH WHISKY AFTER HOSTING KING CHARLES III
Earlier this week, the president announced a plan to study a large-scale troop withdrawal from Germany, over Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s criticisms of the war, and he suggested Thursday that he may do the same for American troops stationed in Italy and Spain.
“Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” he told reporters in the Oval Office Thursday afternoon. “When we needed them, they were not there. We have to remember that.”
