Trump hails tariffs for new US$4.2 billion Audi plant in Georgia

‘Without tariffs, they wouldn’t be coming in,’ the president told a midterm election rally in the state

President Donald Trump defended his decision to wield tariffs during a campaign rally in Georgia, saying they have made the US richer, as he announced that Volkswagen agreed to build a new US$4.2 billion Audi plant in the state.

“Think of that. 200,000 cars a year. That’s incredible,” Trump told a crowd in the city of Perry. “This will be the single largest investment in US auto industry history, modern history.”

Later, he added, “Without tariffs, they wouldn’t be coming in.”

Trump was speaking as Republicans are trying to flip a Senate seat held by Democrat Jon Ossoff in the midterm election, despite trailing in the polls.