Trump Floats 100% Tariff on Barbies While His UK Trade ‘Deal’ Shields Super-Luxury Cars Like Rolls-Royce

Former President Donald Trump is facing mounting criticism after unveiling a U.S.-UK trade framework that offers tariff relief for high-end British luxury vehicles while threatening to double toy prices for American families.

In an Oval Office announcement on Thursday, Trump confirmed that the U.S. would lower import tariffs on up to 100,000 UK-manufactured vehicles annually – including premium brands like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Jaguar – from 25% to 10%. Vehicles beyond that quota will still be subject to the original 25% tariff.

“They make very few cars, they’re handmade, and they’ve been doing it the same way for a long time,” Trump said. “I wouldn’t ask them to build Rolls-Royce in the U.S. That’s not what this is about.”

While the move makes it cheaper to import exclusive vehicles few Americans can afford – UK car exports to the U.S. averaged $135,000 per vehicle last year – Trump simultaneously suggested a 100% tariff on toys made by American toy giant Mattel, following public remarks from the company’s CEO about the impossibility of moving production stateside.

“We’ll put a 100% tariff on his toys, and he won’t sell one toy in the United States,” Trump said in response to Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz’s comment that U.S.-based manufacturing would price toys out of reach for American consumers. “I wouldn’t want to have him as an executive too long,” Trump added.

Mattel, which produces popular toys such as Barbie and Hot Wheels, warned that such tariffs would force prices up significantly, making it harder for families to afford holiday shopping staples. Retailers typically begin stocking for the holiday season in the summer, meaning potential tariff changes could hit consumers quickly.

Economists and critics were swift to point out the disconnect. University of Michigan professor Justin Wolfers wrote on X that Trump’s trade deal “lower[s] the price of Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Jaguars, Aston Martins, Range Rovers, and Minis,” while offering no relief for goods Americans buy in far larger quantities. “No other consumer good received carveouts,” Wolfers noted.

The value of UK car imports stood at $12.3 billion last year, with just 90,000 vehicles shipped to the U.S., according to S&P Global Mobility – making Britain only the sixth-largest exporter of vehicles to the U.S., responsible for just 1% of total imports.

The backlash intensified further after Ken Griffin, billionaire investor and Trump supporter in the 2024 election, described tariffs as “a painfully regressive tax” that disproportionately burden working-class Americans. In an interview with Politico, Griffin also warned that selective tariff breaks risk fostering “crony capitalism,” where government favoritism distorts fair competition. “It’s terrifying to watch this play out over the course of weeks,” he said.

While Trump’s team frames the trade deal as a win for efficiency and American jobs, critics argue the real beneficiaries are luxury automakers and the ultra-wealthy – not everyday American families facing rising costs on essentials, including toys.

No further updates have been provided by the White House on when the proposed toy tariffs might take effect.