If other #carmakers make similar moves, the #economic impact could be severe, leading to higher #car #prices & widespread #layoffs. The #tariffs on #cars are among the first of several industry-specific levies that #Trump has in his sights & could offer early clues about how businesses will respond to his #trade policies, including whether they raise #prices or increase manufacturing in the US. Trump also wants to #tax the imports of #medicines & #ComputerChips.

#JaguarLandRover, based in Britain, said it would temporarily stop exporting its luxury cars to the US. #Stellantis idled factories in #Canada & #Mexico that make Chrysler & Jeep vehicles & laid off 900 US #workers who supplied those factories w/engines & other parts.

#Audi, the luxury division of #Volkswagen, also paused exports of cars to the #US from #Europe, telling dealers to sell whatever they still had on their lots.

Leavitt said the new #tariffs #Trump threatened #China with — totaling 104% levies — would go into effect at 12:01AM Wednesday, Eastern time, in the #UnitedStates.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House propagandist, told reporters Tues that #Trump had tasked his advisers to “have tailor-made #trade deals w/each & every country that calls up this administration to strike a deal.” But she rejected the idea that this marked an “evolution” from aides’ earlier comments that there would not be a negotiation over #tariffs, w/more set to take effect tomorrow. She reaffirmed Trump is not planning to pause implementation of his plan.

Any such measure would face a tough path, needing enough support to overcome a presidential veto. And the #House may avoid having to consider it at all. Last week, the #Senate approved a similar measure to scrap the #tariffs that #Trump imposed on #Canada, but #HouseRepublicans moved preemptively to shut down the requirement that they vote on such a measure

Acc/to #Trump’s interpretation of trade laws, #BernieSanders told Greer, “the president can declare an emergency with any country on Earth.” He added, “That’s called #authoritarianism.”

Greer responded: “Sir, Congress delegated this power to the president.” ← they did not.

The hearing has concluded. Before it wrapped up, Sen #BernieSanders (I-VT) described himself as “not a great fan of unfettered free #trade” but called the national emergencies President Trump has used to impose tariffs against #Canada & other countries “a lie.”

Greer said #Trump directed that there will be no exclusions for the #steel & #aluminum tariffs or products made in #China, but demurred when asked how long #tariffs will be in place. “We have to take this step by step,” he said. “We have to take it country by country, to address these issues.”

Jamieson Greer, the US #trade rep, testified before the #Senate #Finance Cmte for >2 hours. Thom Tillis (R-NC) had some fiery & skeptical questions, asking if Greer’s in charge of the #tariffs or “whose throat I get to choke when it’s wrong.” He also sought to clarify if there will be any exceptions, probably on behalf of his constituents who depend on imported parts & components for their businesses.