‘Government should impose tariffs on Musk’s Tesla cars’, says Oxfordshire MP
Oxfordshire MPs are concerned about impact of jobs at Oxford MINI Plant
Last updated 2nd Apr 2025
Oxfordshire MPs are calling on the Government to impose tariffs of their own on Elon Musk’s Tesla cars, by “standing up to Donald Trump rather than succumbing to his bullying”.
It’s after the US President signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all imported cars which comes into effect April 2.
‘I’m very worried for the Mini Plant in Cowley’
Five Oxfordshire Liberal Democrat MPs (Olly Glover, Calum Miller, Charlie Maynard, Layla Moran, and Freddie van Mierlo) say the Government is ‘letting car manufacturers down’.
Olly Glover, Lib Dem MP for Didcot and Wantage said: “We are calling for tariffs in return on Tesla, which is a major United States car manufacturer, so that we can make it clear that we are standing up to Donald Trump rather than succumbing to his bullying.”
The tariffs come at an already worrying time for the Oxford MINI Plant, which is already facing delays to its electric vehicle production.
The Cowley-based factory has been making cars for over a hundred years, and thousands of people are employed in the sector.
Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock and Lib Dem Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, said: “I’m very worried about what Trump’s trade tax could mean for the Mini Plant in Cowley, which is such an important part of our county’s economy and history. It is urgent that the Government sets out a plan for how they’re going to defend the automotive industry and jobs at Cowley.”
He added: “This tariff shows the need to forge a new customs union with our European neighbours, to safeguard our economy and boost growth.”
“We will take a calm, pragmatic approach”
Sir Keir Starmer has said the Government has "prepared for all eventualities" and is working with companies likely to be hit by US President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Mr Trump is expected to slap import taxes on goods going to the US from around the world in a White House statement at 9pm.
British businesses are braced for the impact of the president's "liberation day" tariffs, which have the potential to derail the UK Government's hopes for economic growth.
At Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir told MPs: "Let me be clear with the House, a trade war is in nobody's interests and the country deserves - and we will take - a calm, pragmatic approach.
"That's why constructive talks are progressing to agree a wider economic prosperity deal with the US.
"That's why we're working with all industries and sectors likely to be impacted.
"Our decisions will always be guided by our national interest, and that's why we have prepared for all eventualities, and we will rule nothing out."