EU, Exercises Caution with Immediate Response, Continues to Seek Negotiated Solutions
Canada Considers Retaliatory Tariffs…Japan “Reviewing All Options”
South Korea Holds Emergency Public-Private Meeting…Brazil “Won’t Stay Silent”
(Washington D.C. AFP=Yonhap News) On the 26th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump officially announced a 25% tariff on foreign cars and parts at the White House in Washington, D.C.
(Brussels, Tokyo, Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporters Kyung Soo-hyun and Jung Bit-na, and correspondents Hwang Chul-hwan and Lee Sin-young report that countries are busy devising countermeasures following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on the 26th (local time) to impose a 25% tariff on foreign cars.
The new tariffs, set to take effect on the 3rd of next month, target all foreign vehicles and key parts, but are largely seen as aimed at Europe, Canada, South Korea, Japan, and Mexico.
The European Union (EU) expressed regret over the car tariffs, yet refrained from an immediate response, likely taking into account ongoing negotiations with the U.S.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated her “deep regret” over the U.S. decision to impose tariffs on European automotive exports. She added that the EU would assess this announcement alongside other measures the U.S. is considering and would continue to seek solutions through negotiations, protecting its economic interests.
The EU’s comprehensive response will take into account the reciprocal tariffs the U.S. is set to announce on the 2nd of the next month and the results of ongoing negotiations. The EU had previously postponed the first phase of retaliatory measures set to impose €26 billion (approx. 41 trillion KRW) worth of tariffs on U.S. goods in response to the Trump administration’s 25% tariff on foreign steel and aluminum products.
Canada is reportedly exploring the option of retaliatory tariffs. According to Reuters, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney referred to the auto tariffs as a “direct attack” and indicated plans to respond to defend Canadian interests, hinting at the possibility of imposing retaliatory tariffs. Despite acknowledging the potential negative impact, Carney noted that he would soon converse with President Trump on the matter.
The New York Times reported that if the 25% tariff is imposed as Trump promised, it could severely impact Canada’s auto and auto parts manufacturing industry, as it accounts for 10% of the country’s manufacturing sector, with 80-90% of production exported to the U.S. and elsewhere.
Japan, also heavily reliant on auto exports to the U.S., is expressing concern. Japanese government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed significant regret over the announcement that included Japan among the targeted countries, emphasizing Japan’s investment contributions to the U.S. economy since 2019.
Hayashi conveyed that broad U.S. trade restrictions, including auto tariffs, could impact both Japan-U.S. economic relations and the global economy, requesting once again that Japan be excluded from the tariff list. Opposition forces are also calling for retaliatory measures, like imposing reciprocal tariffs.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, addressing a budget committee in the House of Councillors, stated that “all options are naturally under consideration,” underscoring the need to prioritize national interests while strongly requesting the exclusion of Japan from the 25% tariff.
Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, visiting Japan, hinted at countermeasures in response to the U.S. tariffs, asserting Brazil would adopt approaches deemed beneficial to its own interests.
On the other hand, the Mexican Foreign Ministry reported on X (formerly Twitter) that Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente spoke with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, discussing security, immigration, and trade issues, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties.
In South Korea, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy convened an emergency joint public-private meeting chaired by Minister Ahn Deok-geun to discuss response strategies.