Trump Delays Auto Tariffs on Mexico and Canada by One Month

The White House announced Wednesday that auto imports from Canada and Mexico will be exempt from tariffs for one month. It also stated that President Donald Trump is open to considering additional tariff exemptions.

U.S. officials have been in discussions with Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed. “We are granting a one-month exemption for vehicles entering under the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) to prevent economic disadvantages,” Leavitt explained during a press briefing.

Trump-Trudeau Tariff Negotiations

Trump also spoke by phone with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday. However, the former president remains critical of Ottawa’s efforts to curb fentanyl trafficking, stating they are “not good enough” to justify lifting the tariffs imposed Tuesday on Canadian and Mexican products.

Despite describing the conversation as “fairly friendly” in a post on Truth Social, Trump still took aim at Trudeau.

According to sources cited by Reuters, Trump was considering exemptions for certain automotive sector companies affected by the tariffs on Mexico and Canada. The administration was reportedly weighing relief from the 25% tariffs for products that comply with USMCA rules, including automobiles.

These discussions suggest potential exemptions for manufacturers meeting USMCA origin requirements. One proposed scenario would grant a 30-day tariff exemption, but automakers would need to demonstrate plans to increase U.S. production to maintain it.

Temporary Relief of Tariffs?

This temporary relief appears to contradict comments made Tuesday by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who stated, “This is not a pause—none of that. But I think the message is, ‘Do more, and we’ll meet you halfway somehow.’ We’ll probably make an announcement tomorrow (Wednesday).”

On Tuesday, Trump met with the CEOs of General Motors and Ford, as well as the president of Stellantis, to discuss the possibility of delaying the tariffs on North American-made vehicles for 30 days.

Automakers have expressed willingness to boost U.S. investments but are seeking greater certainty on tariff and environmental policies.