May 16, 2019—The Trump administration will delay auto tariffs that the Commerce Department says are justified by national security considerations by up to six months.
The White House had until May 18 to decide whether to place tariffs as high as 25 percent on imported cars and auto parts. Lawmakers from both parties have urged Trump to not tack on the auto duties. U.S. automakers have also opposed the potential tariffs, reported The Detroit Free Press.
Legally, President Donald Trump has an additional 180 days to decide as long as he is negotiating with the United States counterparts, CNBC reported. While the tariffs could be a way to gain leverage over trading partners such as the European Union, Canada, Mexico and Japan during ongoing negotiations, Trump also risks igniting new global trade conflicts if he decides to raise car tariffs.
