The White House stated on the 5th (local time) that U.S. President Donald Trump granted a one-month exemption to American automobile manufacturers regarding the 25% tariff imposed on Mexico and Canada.
White House Spokesperson Caroline Rabbitt noted during a briefing that, "We spoke with the 'Big 3' automakers," stating that "we will exempt tariffs on vehicles coming into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada for one month."
He explained, "This request came from the CEOs of U.S. automakers Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis," adding that "the president is exempting the tariff for one month to ensure they do not suffer economic disadvantages."
This measure is interpreted as being mindful of concerns that Trump's tariff imposition will primarily affect U.S. automakers producing vehicles in bulk in Mexico and Canada. It is reported that the president spoke with the representatives of the three companies earlier that day.
Initially, Trump planned to impose the 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico starting on the 4th of last month, but he postponed it for a month and then implemented it on the 4th. There are concerns that imposing high tariffs on these countries, which have a unified supply chain under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), would also impact U.S. businesses.