WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is considering raising tariffs on imported cars in the near future, doubling down on his America First trade policy to defend U.S. manufacturing and protect American autoworkers.
“To protect our autoworkers, I imposed a 25% tariff on all foreign-made automobiles,” Trump stated during a White House event. “And I might increase that tariff in the not-too-distant future. The higher it goes, the more likely they are to build their plants right here in the United States.”
The remarks came as President Trump signed a resolution blocking a controversial California law that would have banned the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035 — a move he criticized as “extreme” and “disastrous for American jobs.”
Trump’s Tariffs Boost Investment
President Trump highlighted recent multi-billion-dollar investments by American giants like Ford and General Motors, crediting his trade policies for encouraging companies to build and hire in the U.S. instead of outsourcing to China or Mexico.
Critics, including foreign automakers like Hyundai, warn that tariffs may lead to higher vehicle prices. But Trump’s supporters say the short-term cost is worth the long-term gain in jobs, national security, and manufacturing independence.
“We’re bringing factories back, and we’re putting Americans back to work,” Trump emphasized. “That’s the goal — and we’re doing it.”
A Broader Strategy to Revive U.S. Industry
The Trump administration has aggressively used tariffs across multiple industries — from steel and aluminum to pharmaceuticals — as part of a broader strategy to protect American interests.
In addition to the auto tariff, Trump has implemented a 10% across-the-board tariff on general imports and threatened even higher penalties on countries that, in his words, “manipulate the U.S. economy and exploit our markets.”
Taking On California’s Green Agenda
Trump’s push for U.S.-made vehicles comes as a direct rebuke to California’s progressive green energy agenda. The president argued that banning gas-powered vehicles would hurt consumers, kill American jobs, and hand the auto market over to Chinese electric car makers.
“We’re not going to let California or any blue-state radicals dictate national policy,” Trump said. “Gas-powered cars are part of American freedom — and we’re going to keep it that way.”