On Wednesday 2 April, the US government announced sweeping import tariffs set to impact countries around the world, with President Trump aiming to ‘make America wealthy again’. The administration announced a 10% tariff on all imports to the US for the UK. Meanwhile other countries, such as those in Southeast Asia face up to 50%, whilst the European Union was hit with 20% tariffs. Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealer’s Association, commented on the worrying impacts of the tariffs, citing that they pose a significant risk to the automotive industry and the global economy as a whole. Robinson concluded her comments stating that the cumulative effects of the import tariffs will be profound and significantly impact dealers, who have already shown “remarkable resilience in the face of economic challenges”. Manufacturers and the broader automotive industry will also be severely affected. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to be swift and act decisively in his response. He has stated that “nothing is off the table” when it comes to the Government’s response. For the UK, the US is the second largest car export market after the EU. Tariffs are set to have considerable repercussions on the automotive industry and spark a global trade war. Find the full NFDA statement here: NFDA | NFDA STATEMENT ON US TRADE TARIFFS