Jaguar Land Rover resumes US exports after tariff disruption

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has restarted shipments to the US after nearly a month-long pause triggered by new import tariffs introduced under President Donald Trump’s trade crackdown.

Deliveries had been suspended since April 7, following Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on foreign-made cars, a move that sent shockwaves through the global auto industry.

The resumption comes amid ongoing uncertainty for car manufacturers, many of whom are struggling to adapt to sudden policy changes.

Trump’s temporary 90-day suspension of some tariffs last month sparked a brief rally in markets but notably excluded the 25% levy on car imports, keeping pressure on automakers.

On Tuesday, the US administration introduced new relief measures aimed at reducing costs on imported parts, but the broader disruption caused by the tariffs continues to weigh heavily on the sector.

Several major players, including Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and General Motors, have pulled back on financial forecasts for the year ahead due to the volatile trade environment.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell said: “The difficulty for the automotive space is tariffs have been ladled on top of an existing soup of problems which were already proving difficult to digest.

“The uncertain pace of the transition to electric vehicles, partly driven by regulation, is affecting companies’ ability to make long-term plans. Demand has been affected by weak consumer confidence and pressures on household finances over several years as well as supply chain issues.

“Further consolidation seems likely as firms look to steer a course through a set of challenges which look as daunting as facing Spaghetti Junction at rush hour.”