Trump Administration Will Delay Auto Tariffs For Up To 6 Months

The Trump administration will delay auto tariffs by up to six months as it tries to reach trade agreements with the European Union and Japan.

The White House is considering whether to levy the duties, citing a national security threat.

The decision comes as the administration amplifies its trade spat with China and tries to reach a deal with Beijing.

“United States defense and military superiority depend on the competitiveness of our automobile industry and the research and development that industry generates,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.

“The negotiation process will be led by United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and, if agreements are not reached within 180 days, the President will determine whether and what further action needs to be taken.”