Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that he might impose tariffs exceeding 200% on cars imported from Mexico, with the goal of stopping the flow of Mexican-made vehicles into the U.S. market.

“All I’m doing is saying ‘I’ll put 200 or 500, I don’t care.’ I’ll put a number where they can’t sell one car,” Trump stated during a Fox News interview that aired on Sunday. “I don’t want them hurting our car companies.”

In the midst of a close contest with Democrat Kamala Harris, Trump reiterated his commitment to protecting the American auto industry. He had previously vowed that, if reelected, he would implement a 100% tariff on imported vehicles in an effort to boost domestic production. Last week, speaking at a rally in Juneau, Wisconsin, Trump dramatically increased that figure.

“When I use 200 I’m using it as a number,” Trump clarified during the Fox News interview. “I don’t want their car. They will not be able to sell cars. I’m not going to let them build a factory right across the border and sell millions of cars into the United States and destroy Detroit further.”

This isn’t the first time Trump has raised the idea of steep tariffs on Mexican-made cars. During his 2016 presidential run and his time in office, he threatened similar measures. In 2019, automakers warned that tariffs as high as 25% on cars and parts from Mexico could severely disrupt the industry and drive up prices for consumers.

In 2018, under Trump’s direction, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), introducing new terms that U.S. officials said would ensure more of the region’s auto manufacturing remained within the United States.

{Matzav.com}