Donald Trump Threatens Tariffs Chinese Cars, Even If It’s Made In Mexico

File photo of Donal Trump whilst serving office as President. The disgraced former US President stated his intent to levy stiffer tariffs on Chinese cars imported into America, even if they're made in Mexico.

During a rally speech in Dayton, Ohio, disgraced former US President Donald Trump reportedly announced his intent to impose a 100% tariff on cars made in Mexico by Chinese companies, doubling the levy he suggested prior for automobiles manufactured south of the American border. 

In his address, Trump directly called out Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasising the need for broader tariffs on a wide range of products, not just electric vehicles.

"They've also got to do it on other vehicles and a lot of other products," Trump stated to reporters as he entered court for his recent trial in New York. "China's eating our lunch right now. ... They have to do it on much more than electric vehicles,” he added.

The new BYD Shark super-PHEV 4x4 pick-up truck recently debuted in Mexico. This is one of a slew of cars made by Chinese automakers that Trump is targeting with his proposed new tariffs.

The former U.S. president criticised current president Joe Biden for not acting sooner on Chinese exports and claimed credit for the tariff policies Biden has maintained. As both prepare for a rematch in the upcoming Nov presidential election, Trump has highlighted his aggressive tariff strategies.

Earlier this week, Biden unveiled a significant tariff hike on various Chinese imports, including electric vehicle (EV) batteries, computer chips, and medical products. This move, aimed at gaining favor with voters dissatisfied with his economic policies, risks sparking an election-year row with Beijing.

"He wants to put big tariffs on China, which is the suggestion that I made. 'Where have you been for three and a half years?' They should have done that a long time ago," Trump remarked.

Should Trump's re-election bid become successful, Chinese automakers may face stiffer tariffs to import into America compared to what current US President Joe Biden enacted recently.

Trump's presidency from 2017 to 2021 was marked by a series of tariff battles with China. Now, as a candidate, he is proposing even steeper tariffs, suggesting rates of 60% or higher on all Chinese goods and a 10% across-the-board tariff on imports from all countries.

Biden, who has promoted electric vehicles as a cornerstone of his economic and climate initiatives, has faced criticism from Trump over the state of the auto industry in Michigan. Trump condemned Biden's push for electric vehicle production, labeling it a mandate and pointing to the industry's struggles in Michigan as evidence of flawed policies. KR