US report on car imports: EU auto makers express grave concern
Brussels, 19 February 2019 – Following the submission to the White House of the US Commerce Department’s report on the section 232 national security investigation into motor vehicle and auto part imports, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) reiterates its concerns about any potential new tariffs.
ACEA cautions that the application of additional duties on imports of passenger cars and parts would not only severely affect the EU industry, but also the US economy and consumers alike. It would mean that all automobile manufacturers in the United States, whether domestic or international, would face a significant increase in costs.
This cost increase would have to be mitigated by lowering margins, reducing production costs or passing additional purchase and repair costs on to consumers. Such measures would make American automobile manufacturing less competitive and hit US consumers in their pockets. In other words, the imposition of tariffs would have a counter-productive effect on the US economy.
“Imports of cars and auto parts from the EU clearly do not pose a national security risk to the United States,” stated ACEA Secretary General, Erik Jonnaert. “Any trade restrictive measures in our sector will have a serious negative impact, not only on EU manufacturers but also on US manufacturers.”
European auto makers produce close to one million vehicles in the United States per year, of which roughly 60% are exported. All in all, EU manufacturers directly and indirectly employ more than 470,000 Americans, which means that European auto makers are major investors in the US economy.
About ACEA
- The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) represents the 14 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Renault Group, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
- Visit www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on www.twitter.com/ACEA_auto or www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/.
Contact:
- Cara McLaughlin, Communications Director, cm@acea.auto, +32 485 88 66 47.
- Ben Kennard, Content Editor and Press Manager, bk@acea.auto, +32 487 39 21 82
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About the EU automobile industry
- 13.0 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
- 11.5% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
- €374.6 billion in tax revenue for European governments
- €101.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
- Over 7% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
- €59.1 billion in R&D spending annually, 31% of EU total
