President Donald Trump has announced that all medium and heavy duty trucks imported into the United States will be subject to a 25 percent tariff from November 1.
The president said the measure, initially planned to begin in October, is intended to protect U.S. manufacturers from unfair foreign competition and strengthen domestic brands such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, and Freightliner.
The administration had previously justified the move on national security grounds, arguing that the import surge threatened America’s industrial base.
Reports indicate that the new tariff will affect imports from major trade partners including Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Finland.
Business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have urged Washington to reconsider, noting that these countries pose no security risk to the U.S. Mexico, the largest exporter of heavy trucks to America, has opposed the policy, stressing that its exports contain roughly 50 percent U.S. content.