Trump Announces Steep Auto Tariffs, Confirms Pro-Tariff Trade Minister
Auto Tariffs to Reach 25%, Escalating to Higher Levels
US President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to impose substantial tariffs on auto imports, a move that has raised concerns in the industry. According to Trump, the tariffs will be set at approximately 25%, with further details to be announced in April.
Trump stated that the tariffs are intended to protect American jobs and strengthen the domestic auto industry. He emphasized, "It’s going to be 25 percent and more, and it’s going to be, over a period of a year, a lot more than that." He added that he is providing businesses with time to adjust to the new market conditions.
Roughly half of the cars sold in the US are produced domestically, while Mexico and Canada account for about half of imported vehicles. The remaining half comes from other major automakers, including Germany.
Howard Lutnick Confirmed as US Trade Chief Amidst Tariff Agenda
The US Senate has approved Howard Lutnick as the nation’s Trade Representative by a vote of 51-45. Lutnick is a staunch supporter of Trump’s controversial trade policies, which have prioritized confrontation since his inauguration.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Lutnick advocated for a firm stance against China and the implementation of tariffs on US imports. He dismissed concerns about inflation, describing the notion as "nonsense."
Court Blocks Restriction on Elon Musk’s Access to Federal Data
A federal judge has denied a request to prohibit tech billionaire Elon Musk and his cost-cutting panel, Doge, from accessing sensitive data held by various federal agencies. The judge determined that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated a likelihood of serious legal harm that would justify immediate intervention.
However, the judge expressed concern over Musk’s sweeping authority. Multiple Democratic-led states had filed a lawsuit against Doge’s access to sensitive data, also seeking an injunction to prevent Doge and Musk from firing or furloughing federal employees. The judge declined this request as well.
Trump Orders Dismissal of Biden-Appointed Federal Prosecutors
In an escalation of the turnover within government agencies, President Trump has directed the dismissal of all federally appointed prosecutors nominated by his predecessor, Joe Biden. Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, that during the previous four years, the Justice Department had become "more politicized than ever before."
While it is customary for US attorneys to be asked to resign after a new president’s election, firing them is an unusual occurrence. However, presidents do have the authority to do so.
Trump Bars Associated Press from White House and Air Force One over Gulf of Mexico Nomenclature
US President Donald Trump has barred the Associated Press (AP) from accessing the Oval Office and presidential aircraft (Air Force One) in an attempt to pressure the news agency to stop using the term "Gulf of Mexico" in its reporting.
"We’re going to keep them out until they agree that it’s the American Gulf," said Trump in his first public comment on the issue at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. The president previously signed an executive order in January instructing the Department of the Interior to change the body of water’s name to "American Gulf."
AP has stated that it will continue to use the established name of the gulf, citing editorial standards. Most news organizations continue to refer to the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico.
