New Trump Order Partially Walks Back Auto Tariffs

The New York Times reports:

President Trump signed a pair of executive orders on Tuesday that walked back some tariffs for carmakers, removing levies that Ford, General Motors and others have complained would backfire on U.S. manufacturing by raising the cost of production and squeezing their profits.

The changes will modify Mr. Trump’s tariffs so carmakers that pay a 25 percent tariff on auto imports are not subject to other levies, for example on steel and aluminum, or on certain imports from Canada and Mexico, according to the orders. However, the rules do not appear to protect automakers from tariffs on steel and aluminum that their suppliers pay and pass on.

At a rally in Michigan on Tuesday night, Mr. Trump said that he was showing “a little flexibility” to the automakers but that he wanted them to make their components in the United States. “We gave them a little time before we slaughter them if they don’t do this,” he said.

Read the full article.

Trump to offer automakers some relief on his 25% tariffs, after worries they could hurt US factories https://t.co/kNZW7Qjt8H

— Daniel Lopez (@4danlopez) April 29, 2025