Update: Tariffs 'will hit manufacturers in US, worldwide'

Brussels – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) is “deeply concerned” by the US move to impose tariffs on imports of cars and automotive parts into the country.

In his latest round of import tariffs US president Trump on 26 March announced a 25% duty on the import of all cars and automotive parts into the US, to take effect in April.

In a 27 March statement, ACEA director general Sigrid de Vries urged the Trump administrartion to consider the negative impact “not only on global auto makers but also on US domestic manufacturing.”

The tariffs, said the association leader, come at a “watershed moment” amid the automotive industry’s transformation and increasingly fierce global competition.

“Tariffs will not just impact [vehicle] imports into the US… measures on automotive parts will also hurt auto makers producing cars in the US for export markets.

According to de Vries, European car makers have invested heavily in the US for decades and currently export between 50% and 60% of the vehicles they make in the US.

ACEA's director general, therefore, urged EU and US leaders to engage in dialogue to find “an immediate resolution to avert tariffs and the damaging consequences of a trade war.”

Following this statement, the ACEA issued a fact-sheet on trade between the EU and US in the new-vehicle market