Trump auto tariffs estimated to cost Japanese makers $24bn

South Korea's Hyundai and others boost production in U.S. to cope with Trump's moves

20250404 Vehicles

Vehicles await export in Aichi prefecture, Japan. Auto tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump in late March, and which went into effect on April 3, are set to have a significant impact on both the automotive industry and Japan's overall economy.  (Photo by Takuya Imai)

YUICHI SHIGA, KIM JAEWON and YURIKA YONEDA

TOKYO/SEOUL -- The U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on automobiles imported into the country on Thursday, which experts predict will have huge negative impacts on the auto industries and economies of Japan and South Korea.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the current state of automobile trade with Japan and South Korea, naming one specific company. "Toyota sells 1 million foreign-made automobiles into the United States. ... [However] none of our companies are allowed to go into other countries," he said in a speech declaring "Liberation Day in America."

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