The company that makes Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles said on Saturday it would pause shipments to the U.S., as President Trump’s tariffs took effect this past week.
Jaguar Land Rover Automotive, one of the largest UK automakers, described the move as a “short-term action” and said it would take the time to develop a longer-term plan to accommodate the new economic landscape.
“The USA is an important market for JLR’s luxury brands,” the automaker said in a statement sent to media outlets.
“As we work to address the new trading terms with our business partners, we are taking some short-term actions including a shipment pause in April, as we develop our mid- to longer-term plans.”
Last month, Trump announced 25-percent tariffs on imported cars and light trucks, and the tariffs took effect on April 3, a day after the U.S. president announced his sweeping tariffs on dozens of other countries worldwide.
The U.S. imports 20 percent of British-made cars — according to Reuters, which cited data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) — making it the second-biggest importer after the European Union.
Some UK automakers started building stockpiles in the U.S. to mitigate the effects of Trump’s tariffs, according to The Associated Press, which cited data showing exports to the U.S. increasing from the previous year by 38.5 percent in December, 12.4 percent in January, and 34.6 percent in February.