Trump's auto tariff to risk 3,900 Swedish jobs: minister

STOCKHOLM - If US President Donald Trump's proposal to impose an auto tariff on European cars goes through, Sweden risks losing 3,900 car industry jobs, Swedish Television (SVT) reported on Thursday.

The figures were presented on Thursday by Sweden's trade minister Ann Linde. According to her and a report made at the University of Bern, Switzerland, the effects of the trade tariffs against imports of European vehicles could be devastating for the Swedish car industry.

"It is very worrying and can lead to 3,900 jobs disappearing. We have no assurance that this is not going to happen and that is why we have already started to prepare ourselves," Linde told SVT.

However, as long as the discussions between the US president and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker continue, there is hope, she said. "Trump has promised that as long as they are not finished, no car tariffs will be introduced. That's our only hope for now."

SVT reported that the loss of car industry jobs would be a terrible hit to Sweden, especially when 800 jobs in the steel industry are already under threat because of tariffs on steel and aluminium.