Responding to a reporter’s question about the timeline for the auto tariffs, Trump asked his aide, "We're going to do it on April 2, I think. Is that right?" The official confirmed, "That's right."
He made the remarks during a White House event to sign executive orders.
Trump added humorously that he might do it on April 1, but due to his superstition, he expects to finalize the decision on April 2.
It remains unclear whether April 2 marks the date the tariffs will go into effect or if it will be when Trump formally announces the specifics of the tariffs.
Trump has recently indicated that he would consider levying tariffs on sectors such as automobiles, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.
South Korea, one of the leading exporters of cars to the U.S., may face significant challenges if automobile tariffs are implemented.
The U.S. is South Korea's largest export market for automobiles and cars remain South Korea’s top export item to the U.S.
In 2024, South Korea’s total automobile exports reached $70.79 billion, with $34.74 billion, or nearly 49.1 percent, of that amount heading to the U.S.
South Korea ranked fourth in 2023 for U.S. auto exports, following Mexico, Japan, and Canada.
Under a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, South Korean-made passenger cars, including electric vehicles, have been exempt from tariffs since 2016.
April 2 is also the earliest date the U.S. could begin imposing reciprocal tariffs, as part of a review of tariffs and non-tariff barriers on various countries.
On Thursday, U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick said country-specific reviews would be completed by April 1, paving the way for reciprocal tariffs to start as early as on April 2.
This latest move follows a series of recent tariff announcements from Trump, including a 10 percent additional tariff on Chinese imports on Feb. 4. On Monday, he also announced a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum products, set to begin on March 12.
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