American Teslas axed in China as trade war erupts in blow to Donald Trump

 One of YouTube's most popular motoring personalities has shared how President Trump's imported vehicle tariff has resulted in American-made Teslas being axed from China.

Mr Trump's 'Liberation Day' saw the President introduce a number of sweeping tariffs, with all cars imported into the USA facing a 25 percent tax in a bid to encourage more manufacturers to open factories in the country.

However, in a recent video on his YouTube channel, professional mechanic Scotty Kilmer noted that counter-tariffs introduced by the Chinese Government have seen Tesla stop orders for American-made models in China.

He explained: "Well, now Tesla has stopped taking new orders in China for two American-made models. Some Teslas are made in the USA; some are from China, and some are from Germany. Tesla makes the Model 3 and Model Y in China, but last year the country imported 1,553 Model Xs and 311 Model S cars that were made in the US.

"It's a spit in the bucket compared to what they make in China, but it's very symbolic. A lot of this tariff stuff is turning into pure symbolism. The world isn't going to come to an end, but Tesla's in big trouble because their stock is dropping while the Chinese are all buying the stuff made in China."

While the vast majority of Teslas sold in China, including the best-selling Model Y crossover, are locally produced, Chinese motorists have previously been able to import larger vehicles that are made in the company's factories in Texas and California.

Tesla has not provided a reason why the two vehicles have been taken off sale in China; however, the increasing age of both models and the increased tariffs from the Chinese Government on American-made goods are largely seen as contributing factors.

Since President Trump raised the tariff on Chinese goods entering the USA to 145 percent, China introduced a counter-tariff 41 percent higher than before, likely making the two luxury models less desirable in comparison to locally-made rivals.

Scotty highlighted that, whilst the tariff has helped to make American cars less desirable in China, the problem has existed for a number of years, with General Motors also suffering a loss in sales over recent years.

He added: "It isn't that the tariff has created giant problems - it's increasing a problem that already existed. The Chinese weren't buying these things in the first place anyway.

"General Motors lost a fortune last year and had to write off billions for the Chinese stuff that they gave up with at one point in time. China used to buy a whole bunch of Buicks, models made in China rather than the USA, but they're not even buying those anymore."

The Express has contacted Tesla for comment.