Trump says tariffs has been “amazing” for American automakers

Besides Canada, a new round of steep import levies is taking

effect on dozens of other US trading partners.

During a visit to the General Motors factory in the US state of Michigan,

Trump argues his economic policies have revived

American manufacturing even as many businesses contend

the sweeping tariffs he's imposed against Canada and the rest of

the world have hurt the state.

During a visit to a General Motors facility in Detroit,

Michigan, US President Donald Trump defends

his latest round of tariffs.

Despite American manufacturing and the auto industry saying tariffs

are hurting businesses, Trump says they have been "amazing" for GM.

Trump cheers GM's plans to expand production domestically in the

coming years and claims the tariffs have helped the automaker, and

says his policies are about putting "America first."

Addressing the crowd, he says Michigan "finally has a president who

stands up for auto workers.

“So they were killing us in trucks and now they're killing them.

My policy is simple. If you make your trucks or car in a

foreign country, you have to pay for the privilege of

sending it into our market and make it a lot of money but if you build in a factory in Michigan or some place

in our country or make your automobiles

or trucks right here in America you pay zero taxes,

zero tariff. You pay zero. Zero tariff.

Today I'm proud to say that the auto industry is back

and America is back, and it's pulling Detroit

and Michigan along with it. Our country is

so successful, it's pulling it along,” Trump says.

He goes on to say he is not going to let other countries "steal" the

auto industry, naming Germany, Mexico, Japan, South Korean and

neighbouring Canada, which he has slapped with a 50% tariff.

Once a Republican stronghold, Michigan was one of the 2024 battlegrounds

Trump flipped after it backed Democratic candidate Joe Biden in the

presidential election in 2020.

Michigan remains the heart of the US automotive sector, generating close to

350 million US dollars annually and accounting for 20% of jobs in the state.