Washington: A senior aide to U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that South Korea, Japan, and the European Union (EU) have closed their markets to U.S. cars. The aide emphasized the trade deficits with these regions and defended the Trump administration's newly implemented auto tariffs.
According to Yonhap News Agency, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Stephen Miller, warned that if the current trajectory continues, the United States automotive industry might face extinction within a few years. His remarks come in light of the Trump administration's decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on imported automobiles starting April 3, with additional tariffs on certain auto parts set to begin by Saturday. However, President Trump recently signed a proclamation granting a two-year tariff relief for companies assembling cars domestically.
Miller highlighted the trade imbalances, stating, "Japan closed their market to our cars. The entire EU closed their market to our cars. South Korea closed their market to our cars." He argued that these countries, while having comparable per capita gross domestic product (GDP) with the United States, have created unfair trade conditions resulting in significant trade deficits in the automobile sector.