Vice President Vance on Wednesday said that industries other than U.S. automakers have asked for exemptions on tariffs, but suggested that the Trump administration would not extend further carve outs.
While visiting the southern border, a reporter asked Vance about other industries reaching out on the matter after the White House announced a one-month exemption on tariffs against Canada and Mexico for cars.
“A number of industries have reached out to us to ask us for exceptions to the tariffs,” he said. “[Trump] wants tariffs to apply broadly. He doesn’t want to have 500 different industries getting 500 different carve outs.”
“The way to avoid application of the tariffs is to have your factory and have your facility in the United States of America. That is the way, invest in America, that is how you will avoid being penalized by these tariffs,” Vance added.
Trump spoke with the leaders of the Ford, General Motors and Stellantis on the heels of imposing 25 percent tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada on Tuesday and agreed to giving a one-month exemption for automakers associated with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA).
Additionally, Vance was asked what the Mexico government in particular can do to end the 25 percent tariffs imposed on goods from the country and the vice president said Mexico can “take this issue of immigration enforcement seriously.”
“We need a sustained commitment from the government of Mexico to take the job of border security seriously. Fentanyl is the single largest cause of death among young Americans… we want to see fewer Americans dying of these terrible fentanyl overdoses. We’re going to apply as much leverage as possible on the Mexico government as possible,” Vance said.
The White House earlier on Wednesday left the door open to including other industries on temporary tariff exemptions.
When asked if there would be any other carve-outs to come, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is “open to hearing about additional exemptions.”
The one-month delay for cars will expire in early April, when Trump has pledged to impose reciprocal tariffs on all other nations that have duties placed on American goods.
