President Donald Trump on Saturday was adamant that his recently announced 25% tariffs on automobile imports will be permanent after they go into effect on April 2.
In a phone interview with NBC News’s Kristen Welker, Trump said the tariffs will “absolutely” be permanent, adding that these are a fair response to foreign nations “ripping off the United States for the last 40 years and more.”
“Absolutely, they’re permanent, sure. The world has been ripping off the United States for the last 40 years and more. And all we’re doing is being fair, and frankly, I’m being very generous,” the president said.
Trump was also asked whether he was concerned about the looming tariffs causing foreign-made car prices to shoot up, to which he said he “couldn’t care less” because that would lead consumers to buy cars made in the United States.
“No, I couldn’t care less, because if the prices on foreign cars go up, they’re going to buy American cars,” he said.
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Regarding other, more sweeping reciprocal tariffs also set to go into effect on April 2, which Trump has dubbed “Liberation Day,” the president signaled there would be no delay in the levying of those separate tariffs but that there is some room for negotiation.
Trump said he would be willing to negotiate “only if people are willing to give us something of great value. Because countries have things of great value, otherwise, there’s no room for negotiation.”