Trump announces 25% tariffs on all foreign vehicles, to cover $600 billion in imports

U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% auto tariffs will cover nearly $600 billion worth of vehicles and auto parts imports annually and extend to all computer imports into the U.S. - including laptops - according to a Reuters analysis of tariff codes included in a federal register notice on Wednesday. The update of Trump's auto tariff proclamation from last week included nearly 150 auto parts categories that will face tariffs starting on May 3, a month after Thursday's midnight activation of 25% tariffs on vehicle imports.

The list includes tariff codes for engines, transmissions, lithium-ion batteries and other major components, along with less expensive parts including tires, shock absorbers, spark plug wires and brake hoses.

But a major surprise was the inclusion of the four-digit tariff code covering all computers, which are among the biggest global import categories into the U.S. at $138.5 billion in 2024, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The parts list, along with the May 3 timing for tariffs on those imports, was disclosed just before Trump announced a baseline 10% tariff for all U.S. imports, with many countries slapped with higher reciprocal duties meant to counteract non-tariff trade barriers.

Senior Trump administration officials said autos and auto parts subject to the Section 232 national security tariffs would not also be charged the separate baseline or reciprocal tariffs. In other words, the auto tariffs do not stack on top of the new reciprocal tariffs, which start on April 5.

More parts could be added to the tariff list, as the White House directed the Commerce Department to establish a process within 90 days for domestic producers to request that other parts imports be targeted.

The notice said that for vehicles qualifying under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's rules of origin, importers can pay the 25% duty on only the non-U.S. content of the order.

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