White House Grants One-Month Tariff Exemption for Automakers

The reprieve applies to cars from Canada and Mexico that comply with free-trade deal; Trump is open to more exemptions

President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers, as worries persist that the newly launched trade war could crush domestic manufacturing. The pause comes after Trump spoke with leaders of the “big 3” automakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, on Wednesday, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Asked if 30 days was enough for the auto sector to prepare for the new taxes, Leavitt said Trump was blunt with the automakers seeking an exemption: “He told them that they should get on it, start investing, start moving, shift production here to the United States of America where they will pay no tariff.”

Also Trump pauses some Canada and Mexico tariffs until next month

Some of the sweeping tariffs imposed on Mexican and Canadian goods imported to the United States will be suspended until 2 April, President Donald Trump says