Mercedes' Kallenius Calls For US, EU to Abolish Auto Tariffs: Report

Mercedes-Benz has called for USA and Europe to abolish tariffs on car imports, AFP noted. This comes in the context of American President Donald Trump threatening to hike EU goods duties. 

Ola Kallenius, head of the German automaker said in an interview published that the European Union levies a 10% tariff on cars imported from America, whereas US has a duty of a mere 2.5% on vehicles from the bloc. 

He asked to lower tariffs on both sides to zero, in an interview with Handelsblatt business daily. 

He further noted that export dependent European industries required free trade much more than their American counterparts. 

Trump has threatened to hit products from the 27 nation EU with 25% tariffs and has signed plans for "sweeping tariffs" that allies and adversaries could face, from April 2. 

US tariffs on imported cars will create issues for Mercedes and other European manufacturers, as several vehicles they sell in the United States, are imported. 

Kallenius noted that Mercedes had been "producing on a large scale in the US for years," but was also preparing for US duties, AFP noted.