By David Lawder and David Shepardson (Reuters) -Canada and Mexico won protections against potential new U.S. auto tariffs in 2018 as part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade, but there is no evidence that President Donald Trump will honor those commitments as he imposes 25% duties on global automotive imports.

Trump has repeatedly called April 2 “Liberation Day,” with promises to roll out a set of tariffs, or taxes on imports from other countries, that he says will free the U.S. from a reliance on foreign goods. To do this, Trump has said he'll impose “reciprocal” tariffs to match the duties that other countries charge on U.S. products.

The return of Donald Trump has forced a reckoning in Canada with the potential to reshape the Canadian economy — including the direction its energy flows. “We will need to do things previously thought impossible,

President Donald Trump announced last week that he will impose a 25% tariff on imported passenger vehicles, light trucks and some auto parts. After signing the order last week, Trump said the auto tariff would go into effect on Wednesday, April 2 and begin to be collected on Thursday, April 3.

A policy of wide-ranging levies on foreign goods could tip the U.S. into a recession, experts said. They pointed to risks of a slowdown for businesses mired in higher tax costs, as well as a shopping slump as consumers curtail spending to pad their savings to help weather price increases and a possible economic downturn.

Two months into his White House return, Trump has imposed tariffs on goods from neighboring Canada and Mexico as well as China, all steel and aluminum imports, and foreign cars and auto parts. He's threatened several other countries including traditional allies in the European Union with other steep tariffs ‒ even on European wine.

BYD could bring its affordable electric vehicles to Canada, but there are no guarantees. After being rejected by Canada, BYD has looked elsewhere for its investments. As Canada braces for the impact of steep 25% tariffs on vehicles it exports to the United States,

Without advance notice to Canada, the U.S. president put the auto industry into turmoil with a 25 percent tariff.