U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a new 25% tariff on foreign cars and related parts, the latest move as Washington tries to revive its industrial base and settle trade imbalances with other countries. Taiwan could land on Washington's so-called "Dirty 15" list in next week's highly anticipated reveal of Trump's reciprocal tariff plan, targeting countries that run large trade surpluses with the U.S. Taipei says it cannot confirm Taiwan will be affected.
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00:00Another play in Washington's America First agenda. U.S. President Donald Trump
00:05has made good on his threat and imposed up to 25 percent tariffs on all auto
00:11imports to the U.S. A move Trump says makes up for American business taken
00:17away by other countries. Over the years they've taken so much out of our country
00:22friend and foe and frankly friend has been oftentimes much worse than foe so
00:27we'll effectively be charging a 25 percent tariff but if you build your car
00:31in the United States there is no tariff. Last year the U.S. imported about 240
00:37billion dollars worth of cars mainly from Mexico, South Korea and Japan. Though
00:43Trump is betting the move will revive U.S. car production, auto industry experts
00:48warn the tariffs will only make foreign cars more expensive for American buyers.
00:54On top of taxing finished cars, Trump is also targeting car parts which could
01:00even include things like screws and put Taiwan in the crosshairs.
01:17Like many U.S. allies and partners, Taiwan has been bracing for hits from
01:22Trump as he looks to wipe U.S. trade imbalances. Next week Trump is set to
01:28unveil his reciprocal tariff plan, a sort of tax price match focused against
01:34nation's Treasury Secretary Scott Besant has called the dirty 15. Stopping short
01:40of listing out the countries directly, it's understood to be the top 15% of
01:45countries who run large trade surpluses with the U.S., Taiwan among them. Taipei
01:52says it cannot be sure Trump's tariffs will affect Taiwan. Lawmakers here
01:57grilling Deputy Economy Minister Cynthia Chiang, asking for a clear plan since the
02:03numbers say otherwise. Chiang remaining confident in U.S.-Taiwan ties.
02:22Taipei says it must wait for Washington's announcement set for
02:31April 2nd before making any sort of evaluation, much less a response, leaving
02:37it to Trump to make the first move. Kris Ma and Joyce Sun for Taiwan Plus.