Trump grants one-month exemption for US carmakers from new tariffs on imports

President Donald Trump said ‘we spoke with the big three auto dealers’. Picture: Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP

President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption on his new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for US carmakers, amid fears that the trade war could harm American manufacturers.

The announcement comes after Mr Trump spoke with leaders of the “big three” carmakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis on Wednesday.

“We spoke with the big three auto dealers,” Mr Trump said in a statement read by his spokesperson.

“We are going to give a one-month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA,” referencing the North American free trade agreement he renegotiated in his first term.