President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday imposing a 25% tariff on all imported automobiles and parts in an effort to revive American manufacturing and potentially create thousands of new jobs.
The president explained in the proclamation that his first administration investigated the issue in 2019 and found that “automobiles and certain automobile parts are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.” He stated that COVID-19 impacted the supply chain since then and caused significantly more damage to automobile manufacturing in America.
According to a White House fact sheet, “In 1985, American-owned facilities in the United States manufactured 11.0 million automobiles, representing 97% of overall domestic (American- and foreign-owned) production of automobiles.” However, by 2024, half of the 16 million vehicles Americans purchased were imports. Even among those vehicles labeled “made in America,” an estimated 60% of parts were imported.
Employment for American facilities that manufacture automobile parts has also substantially declined in recent years. There were 286,000 fewer jobs in this field last year than in 2000. America’s trade deficit for automobile parts has increased to $93.5 billion.
While Democrats and liberal economists have insisted that tariffs will be disastrous for the U.S. economy, the White house cited former Biden Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who praised tariffs last year as a means to protect American jobs. “I don’t believe that American consumers will see any meaningful increase in the prices that they face,” Yellen said, adding that tariffs will “ultimately result in lower prices.”
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union publicly endorsed Trump’s tariffs as a boon for the auto industry, agreeing with the administration that thousands of jobs will return to America.
“With these tariffs, thousands of good-paying blue-collar auto jobs could be brought back to working-class communities across the United States within a matter of months, simply by adding additional shifts or lines in a number of underutilized auto plants,” the UAW stated. “Right now, thousands of autoworkers are laid off at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis following recent decisions by auto executives to ship jobs to Mexico.”
Missouri Senator Josh Hawley joined Fox New to discuss the new tariff and explained that Americans will benefit and see greater wages.
“It’s going to mean more auto jobs,” he said. “It’s going to mean higher wages. I mean, people in my state – in the state of Missouri – are cheering this, particularly our auto workers. And Jesse, we’ve got a bunch of them. They are tired of getting ripped off by Mexico. They are tired of getting ripped off by all these foreign countries that have trade deals with us, Jesse. They don’t follow them. They don’t play by the rules. We need a fair deal. And that’s what President Trump is going to get.”
Trump is expected to announce additional reciprocal tariffs on April 2 on countries within the European Union. These tariffs will reportedly be “as high as 20 or 25 percent” and add to already existing tariffs. The president intends to use tariffs to bring other nations to the negotiating table to create new and more fair trade deals.
In an effort to prevent more reciprocal tariffs from the U.S., India is considering cutting tariffs on $23 billion of American exports. The two countries are negotiating a deal where India would possibly reduce tariffs “on 55% of U.S. goods it imports that are now subject to tariffs ranging from 5% to 30%.”
Trump’s tariff agenda has already seen noteworthy successes in the realm of foreign policy, with tariff threats forcing Mexico and Canada to commit more resources to border security. In another standoff with Colombia, Trump’s tariff threat forced the South American nation to accept deported illegal aliens.
This latest round of auto tariffs marks the most significant escalation yet in Trump’s efforts to promote made-in-America products and domestic manufacturing.
Alan Jamison is the pen name of a political writer with extensive experience writing for several notable politicians and news outlets.
With Howard Lutnick advising, I have confidence this will be the right choice.
This is the right thing to do, since other nations have taken advantage of America for far too long. They make out and we lose out. We need more factories with good wages and benefits right here in the US of America. Good jobs, good paychecks, and nice benefit package!
The dems want tariffs to fail and so does the rest of the world. Especially Europe, Canada and Mexico. Europe is richer than the US but has wasted its GDP with the war in the Ukraine and the EU in Brussels want to continue this. To bring the people down into poverty to make a global world as the WEF has decreed. The US is almost there that is why they oppose Trump and his tariffs. Like they do DOGE for finding waste, fraud and abuse and saving millions if not billions in taxpayer dollars. But that is a no no. They want total control and obedience of the people and Trump is letting the people rule. That is what their vote mandated. Only the dems haven’t gotten the message yet, because they don’t accept Trump won. They ran the country the past 4 years and the autopen got the money to their buddies around the country and beyond. Lefties, a reminder, you lost. It’s up to you. You want to have a prosperous country or a bankrupt country. We, the people, have decided it for you. MAGA.
Good . We need to get back to being an Industrial Nation.
Vehicle Manufactures need to start making ICE cars , Tax credits for EV”s Coming to an end shortly.
My husband worked in several auto plants over 40 years, as they closed down, he would go to another one, then again and again, but due to jobs going out of the country, he had to find a job that was not in the automotive industry. My husband has worked on all kinds of motorized vehicle from lawn mowers to big rigs. In his 60 years of working on things, he saw how the quality of parts declined the more they were shipped out of this country. Its about time to get this back in the USA and get back to better standards.
When I was much younger, there was a period where my life pretty much centered around automobiles and the latest models. Now, as long as the one I have is running okay, it’s good enough for me. In other words, I matured and grew up – something far too many Americans have failed to do today.
The EU’s plan to sue manufactures, including ALL suppliers, who don’t meet their ESG or DEI requirements needs challenged now before 2030 implementation. Their auto mfg. is a great start. This should continue even if they drop tariffs.
We have just been a consumer country for too long. It’s time to level the playing field with all these other countries. Our tariffs, at a minimum, should reflect what they charge us to move products into their countries. In the long run, we win.
Hope this works, and quickly. The dems and the media do not want this to work and are doing everything in their power to convince the American people it isn’t working, and it won’t work. 401k’s are being destroyed because of tariffs, so they say. Trump used tariffs in his first term, and Biden did not remove them. Why not? Didn’t effect the stock market then, did it?? Makes you wander. The media has people convinced that this will do nothing but harm, and people are believing it. And while we are at it, let’s scare the hell out of seniors and tell them that your SS benefits are going to be cut. Something needs to be done about the out right lies being told by the media. Hate, fear, creating violence, etc. Almost treasonous, isn’t it? Want to talk about harm? Let’s talk about all the damage done for 4 years just because of open borders… that really is treason! Why aren’t we talking about that? Something has to be done about this. Don’t ask me what, I don’t know what. Someone smarter than me has to figure that out. Please, please don’t say the MSM doesn’t have the reach it once had. Please don’t say the democrat party is dead. Neither is true, and don’t let conservative outlets convince you that everything is good… It isn’t! This needs to be delt with now. Draining the swamp includes the media! The midterms are 19 months away, and all the lies by the media and dems will get stronger and louder… it is already happening. Just look at what Bernie, AOC, Shumer, Crockett, Waters, Talib, and others are doing… and supported by the media. It is an absolute, shameful disgrace to have the U.S. represented by these people, and be supported by a corrupt, treasonous media. This needs to be fixed now….
I am I agreement with Tariffs.
America has been taken advantage by other Countries.
Especially China!
Walk through a Buick Dealership and look at the window sticker of the Buicks.
Most models ARE BUILT IN China!
WHY!
Right on. Bring the manufacturing plants back to America.
I for one have always preferred made in America. The problem is, there is very little that is, and that’s a shame. I have stopped buying things when I find out they are not made here. Just hope more and more companies decide to make their products here, and make them affordable. Why does laundry detergent need to be made in China? Why do we have to depend on China for many of our meds? As a nurse this has really bothered me. The pandemic should have made Americans wake up to the fact that things need to change. I support President Trump trying to bring jobs back to America. If tariffs do the trick, so be it. Nothing else seems to, So glad the sale of US Steel did not go to a foreign country. How crazy is that? That is like giving our national security away. No thank you. It’s time to put this country and it’s people first!!! These globalists will be the ruination of the entire world.
Thank you Donald Trump!! I always try to buy American and find it almost impossible to find. I know it’s been a tough, and sometimes thankless job. I’m so proud of you for standing up for America when others wouldn’t or couldn’t.
Oh no! Too many poor people won’t be able to drive BMW’s anymore? Actually I don’t care what people drive but fair is fair. Let’s all get on a level playing field and play ball. If more jobs come to America because of all this, all the better. Remember, OUR president is no Biden.
At my advanced age, I see a lot of things coming that will be history repeating itself. All this talk about “good paying jobs” is what started the influx of “cheap cars” along with “cheap goods” simply because the average joe could no longer afford the things created by “good wages” It makes me chuckle to remember the reporter snapping a picture of the GM workers parking lot and seeing all the Beetles in the lot. Be careful what you wish for, you might get something you don’t want.
I pray every day that these tariffs do not result in a worldwide recessions=! And Peter Navaro was on FOX today , saying that these tariffs are actually going to be a tax cut for Americans…..cuz the tariff dollars will be given to you if you buy US cars? Did not understand this, and besides how many middle and lower class incomes can afford a new car that is going up faster than the housing market?
I just started 3 weeks ago this web income system that my friend recommended to me and I’ve gotten 2 checks for a total of $9,200… this is the best decision I made in a long time! This extra cash has changed my life in so many ways, thank you!
Here is I started_______ Rebrand.ly/homejobs20
Good news – Trump is now imposing price controls on American automakers, forcing them to eat the costs of these tariffs. Pro-business conservative small government at its finest!
Time to BUY Used:
Porsche Benz, Audi Nissan, Alfa BMW VW Range Rover, Jaguar, etc
Is this guy crazy or what?I believe he loves confrontation,with anyone or any country.Gold is soaring recently,as our once great nation goes down the drain.We need to go back to our great days,of limited government and more freedom.Like Reagan said,”Government is the problem,not the solution”.