Trump: ‘I couldn’t care less’ if automakers raise prices due to tariffs

President Donald Trump confirmed in an interview with NBC News that his administration will move forward with a 25% tariff on all foreign-made vehicles and auto parts. He stated the tariffs would be permanent and dismissed concerns about potential price increases, saying he was not concerned if automakers raise vehicle prices as a result.

“I couldn’t care less if they raise prices,” Trump said when asked about the potential impact on consumers. He added that higher prices on foreign cars would likely encourage consumers to purchase American-made vehicles instead. “If the prices on foreign cars go up, they’re going to buy American cars,” he said.

The president also rejected reports that he had advised automakers against increasing prices. “No, I never said that,” Trump stated, responding to a report from The Wall Street Journal. “I hope they raise their prices.”

According to the White House, vehicles assembled in the United States using components that meet the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) standards will receive special consideration. Until a formal process is established for enforcing the new duties, USMCA-compliant auto parts will remain tariff-free.

NBC News reported that the tariffs will apply even to foreign parts used in domestic assembly unless they fall under the USMCA exemptions. The White House confirmed that companies importing vehicles under USMCA guidelines will have an interim period of exemption.

Trump described the tariffs as a correction to decades of what he considers unfair trade practices. “The world has been ripping off the United States for the last 40 years and more,” he said. “All we’re doing is being fair.”

The tariffs are scheduled to take effect on April 2, coinciding with what the administration is calling “Liberation Day,” which includes duties on a wider range of consumer goods. The policy has drawn criticism from international leaders, including Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney described the move as “unjustified” and suggested that it signals a break in the longstanding U.S.-Canada economic relationship.

Trump said he does not intend to delay the tariffs and would only consider negotiation “if people are willing to give us something of great value.”