Trump officials weigh 25 pct tax on imported cars

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post


24 May, 2018 11:01am
Washington Post
By: David Lynch and Josh Dawsey for Washington Post

The Trump administration is considering new tariffs on imported cars in a move that trade analysts said was designed to put pressure on Mexico during the final stages of negotiations for a new North American trade deal.

Officials may cite national security grounds to justify a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles, a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. President Donald Trump used the same provision of US trade law in March when he called for tariffs on foreign-made steel and aluminium.

Wednesday evening, the White House announced that Trump had directed Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to launch a formal investigation of the possible need for such industrial protection. "Core industries such as automobiles and automotive parts are critical to our strength as a Nation," the president said.

Negotiators for the United States, Mexico and Canada remain deadlocked over rules for granting duty-free status to vehicles under a new North American trade deal.

Read more: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12057730

[dalton99a]

1. Ford Fusion, RAM, Chevrolet Silverado, Nissan Sentra, ...

[Botany]

2. Does the man want another great depression?

F***ing clueless.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

19. Maybe... but it is more likely they and Carl Icahn just like the market manipulation...

... that making such announcements cause.

[Orsino]

46. He's just desperate to be seen appearing to do *something*.

Even pretending to start another abortive trade war probably appeals to him.

[quartz007]

3. Over 5 decades, I have bought only GM, Ford & Chrysler brands

Because I worked in an industry related to local Auto manufacturing. I believe in loyalty to who signs my paychecks.

So I won't twist myself into a pretzel over foreign cars getting hit with tariffs. There is no shortage of American made cars made by American union workers.

[groundloop]

4. True, however I'm afraid US companies will see this as an opportunity to hike prices

If US companies use this as an excuse to hike prices we all know who's going to profit and it won't be consumers or employees.

[quartz007]

6. Yes, your premise is valid

Good evidence of that is how quality of American cars has improved since we began importing good quality cars.

[Zorro]

35. It's what happened in the early '80s when Reagan restricted Japanese imports

[workinclasszero]

51. Oh they sure will

I’d count on that.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

5. Husband is Retired UAW......

The last 2 cars we bought brand new were UAW made..Saturn and a Chevy Cruze

[quartz007]

7. Good for you!

My wife loved her Saturn...trouble free car.

I loved my 1977 Chevy Malibu...drove it 150,000 miles with zero problems. It rode great and could handle Chicago snow easily.

[montana_hazeleyes]

8. I have a 1996 Saturn.

Still a good running, dependable car. One of the best cars I ever had. And to look at it you would think it's much newer.

[quartz007]

9. Sad that GM discontinued Saturn brand

Another boneheaded decision by highly paid executives.

[montana_hazeleyes]

10. Yep.

I love this car. Will keep it going as long as I can.

[mrs_p]

29. Our last three family cars were Saturns

I had to get a Ford when we needed a second car.

It’s a fine car but definitely not the same.

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. It depends on the type of car you want to buy

If I wanted a mid or full size sedan, SUV or truck I wouldn't hesitate to buy American. But I always buy small, fuel efficient cars and the vast majority of those are imports. US manufacturers prefer to build bigger vehicles because they are more profitable per unit.

[paleotn]

22. I understand your point, but...

what constitutes an American car vs. an import has become very gray and convoluted. Many foreign brands are assembled in the US from US, foreign and foreign made in the US and US made overseas parts. Many American cars are assembled outside the US, or at least have significant sub-assemblies built outside the US. Like it or not, today it's hard to tell where an import begins and a US made car ends.

[Demsrule86]

25. I agree fuck Ford, GM and others who manufacture in Mexico for our market.

This will also help American cars which are hurt by the steel tariffs...Lordstown GM laid off a second shift as a result...and before you earnestly inform me the car wasn't selling...multiple papers reported this...and it is well known in Ohio. But it will never happen anyway. Trump doesn't do anything that really helps anyone.

[quartz007]

31. Even if cars are assembled in Mexico,

or Canada, and even if some parts are made there, the parent company does benefit from sales of those cars. Which keeps the company alive in USA. Which benefits their retirees, stock holders (majority are Americans) and can keep expensive union employees on job.

[Demsrule86]

37. American workers don't...the Cruz is manufactured in Mexico too.

Nope don't care. There are less and less union employees...if Lordstown GM survives the plant will become a permanent tier 1 operation with all jobs that don't touch the car outsourced to even lower paid temp agency workers. I have no sympathy for American companies that outsource.

[tammywammy]

39. American workers that make parts for cars assembled elsewhere do benefit.

[Demsrule86]

40. Sorry...we lose jobs to foreign...manufacturers...and parts jobs are way less profitable for

workers. In fact the safety sucks too...a young woman was killed in an accident just before her wedding...

https://www.thedailybeast.com/bride-to-be-crushed-to-death-by-car-factory-robot

Delphi...what's left of it pays their workers $12.00 an hour here in Ohio.

[quartz007]

42. Because buyers want cheaper cars! Simple as that!!

So either we allow cheaper cars to flood the US markets with loss of US jobs, or impose tariffs on imported cars which will cause more cars manufactured in USA.

Pick your poison. Personally, I will pay more for made in USA.

[Demsrule86]

43. I already pay more...but I have not noticed the foreign cars being particularly cheap at the moment.

Once they got market share, they raised their prices. I have no issue with tariffs if done correctly. The trade agreements are terribly unfair to American manufacturing and a big reason why the middle class is endangered.

[quartz007]

44. You are getting it, my friend!

$800 BILLION trade deficits every year = $800 BILLION worth of manufacturing and service jobs lost in USA every year.

And you are wise to know manufacturing jobs are generally middle class jobs.

[Demsrule86]

45. Yes that is true...these job losses are a big cause of economic inequality.

[llmart]

26. Hogwash.

I have a Honda - made in USA in Ohio from US suppliers for the most part. Should I not have bought that? Ford isn't going to be making small cars any longer. It has more US content than the Ford Focus which I considered.

This is just another example of pandering to soundbites and his base. He's a fool pandering to fools who will believe that me buying a Honda somehow cost US jobs.

[quartz007]

32. If the car is assembled in USA, it is not as bad as

fully imported car. But keep in mind, the car will use lots of parts made somewhere else, and the profits flow back to Japan or S. Korea or Germany.

[Demsrule86]

38. The money goes back to Japan...and Japan sells cars here cheap and for way more at home

because they have a closed market ...and they can. thus you are supporting a manufacturer and country that screws American auto workers and companies.

[llmart]

49. I'm doing no such thing.

I'm keeping American workers in Ohio and various US suppliers' employees working. I'm guessing that all of those workers take their paychecks and spend them in the US.

The majority of the parts in my Honda were purchased from US suppliers.

By the way, there was nothing "cheap" about my Honda.

[Demsrule86]

56. OK...then. You really aren't...Maryville plant was set up by Reagan and is

the only plant that is unionized...but still foreign. And the profits add to their GDP not ours.

[quartz007]

59. The profit Honda makes from your car goes straight

to Japan and does not pay US federal taxes which our gov't needs badly with the huge annual budget deficits.

[we can do it]

57. I was GM only until I was told "nobody" drives manual.

“Nobody” now only drives safer Subaru, as does the rest of Nobody family.

[quartz007]

58. If you like manual, nothing wrong!

You can buy a GM nameplate Chevy Spark, which still comes with manual option, and is the cheapest car on market. I am driving one currently, with CVT tranny, and I love this little car for mostly in city driving. I hate shifting gears 500 times every day, so I like the CVT automatic.

[we can do it]

61. I do need to transport elderly sometimes.

They would never be able to fit in a spark. Plus you’re dead if a skateboarder runs into you.😬
Our full coverage for both Subaru’s is less TVs my Cavaliers was. No contest in safety.

[quartz007]

62. There are 10 Airbags in my Spark...

if I recall correctly. However I have noticed the difference driving our 2 cars. Other drivers cut in front of my Spark 3 times as often as they do in front of my Chevy HHR. But i still have good reflexes at age 78, and never had an accident in 58 years of driving.

[not fooled]

11. Oh, please

based on recent nonsense promulgated by donnie and his gang of crooks, this is just another red herring to distract the media and foment blathering before he goes to the intended outcome, i.e. "never mind".

Pick something that sounds outrageous and watch all the hounds follow the scent.

[SergeStorms]

14. Bingo!

Standard operating procedure from TrumpCo.

[PSPS]

12. Translation: Flatter me publicly and/or give me the cash

[sandensea]

13. By which they mean: Cheeto's holding out for a bribe from Canada or Mexico.

"And I want dollars - no pesos or anything with the Queen on it!"

[SergeStorms]

15. You bet!

If Mexico came through with a $500 million "loan" to TrumpCo. for the construction of a Trump Resort, this entire subject would be forgotten pronto.

Hey, it worked for China! Trump is now more worried about their economy than he is ours.

[BlueIdaho]

17. With all due respect

What is an American car? One with only American parts? One assembled in America? One who’s general offices are in America? With Ford announcing they will no longer make cars in America, will a new Focus have a tariff?

I want to support the American worker, but I’m not so sure the industry can be so evenly divided.

[quartz007]

33. Definition of an American car:

1) Some manufacturing is done in USA, even if it is just assembly. That employs American workers. Your Honda , if assembled in USA, qualifies.

2) Cars bearing American name such as Ford, GM etc. Even if assembled in Mexico or Canada, some parts are likely to be made in USA. And the profits from sale flow back to the American company which benefits retirees, keeps the company alive in USA, and pays tax to US Treasury which benefits us all.

[Alethia Merritt]

18. Because they have the money and can afford to pay the price and most of us can't.

Just another way to deprive "those others" of the pursuit of happiness.

[BumRushDaShow]

20. So that applies to Porche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls, Masarati, Aston-Martin...

....

(but then the biggest consumers of those got a big tax cut)

[quartz007]

34. Tax cuts is an altogether separate issue

and there is no doubt whatsoever that the top 10% received 90% of the tax cut.

[Cold War Spook]

21. I drive a 2009 Kia Optima.

The Kia is made? in America or at least put together. 140,000 miles and still going strong.

[Bengus81]

23. Going to slap a 25% tariff on those soon to be Thailand built Harley's too??

Bet he doesn't...........

[FSogol]

27. Those will be sold in Asia, not imported to the US. n/t

[Bengus81]

54. Then where will the US bikes come from when they've shuttered all the plants?

If their shutting down the KC plant that one in PA is next. This isn't about consolidation,it's about hatred for Unions and getting those bikes built with ultra cheap labor in Thailand.

Once that factory is up to speed over there that PA plant will be closed so fast those workers heads will spin. Watch for it..........

[FSogol]

55. Nah, their whole business model falls apart if they are an

Asian bike manufacturer. The last plant will hang around

[GoCubsGo]

24. Yes! Go for it!

I can't wait to see where that gets you. No. Really. I can't wait!

[SoCalNative]

28. Because it worked out so well

when Reagan did it.

[workinclasszero]

30. So what about the hundreds of thousands of Americans

working in this country that produce Honda's, Toyota's etc?


Cars made in America? Chrysler, Ford no longer qualify
By SUE CALLAWAY June 29, 2015

The phrase “made in America” has always pulled at the hearts and wallets of loyal, red-blooded consumers, and never more so than in the automotive space. But according to research released Monday, the car company that qualifies as most American is….the Toyota Camry.

Cars.com released its 10th American Made Index (AMI) of the vehicles that qualify as the most American—based on where parts are manufactured (a vehicle must be made of at least 75% U.S. parts to even make the list), where the vehicle is built, and what percentage of the vehicles’ sales are U.S.-based, among other factors.

This year’s AMI yielded a few surprises. The Toyota Camry is, apparently, the most American vehicle on sale in the U.S. Surprise No. 2: Ford fell off the list entirely this year—even though the F-150 pickup topped the list in 2013 and 2014. (A Chrysler hasn’t shown up since 2012.) Surprise No. 3: Ten years ago, when Cars.com began compiling the AMI, 29 vehicles made the cut; this year, only seven did—not even enough for a Top Ten. Globalization is here.

http://fortune.com/2015/06/29/cars-made-in-america/

[dalton99a]

36. +1

[llmart]

50. +2

[quartz007]

60. Better than 100% imported car but...profits go straight to Japan

which does not help US Treasury with those humongous annual deficits. Taxes collected by US Treasury benefit all needy Americans.

[Aristus]

41. Trump is too stupid to understand eight syllables: retaliatory tarrifs.

The auto industry that PBO rescued is going to take a serious beating...

[BlueIdaho]

52. This! nt.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

47. Donald Trump Misses Driving. So Would You If You Owned His Cars

Cars

Donald Trump Misses Driving. So Would You If You Owned His Cars

A look back at the cars the U.S. president used to enjoy from behind the wheel.

By Hannah Elliott
May 4, 2017, 4:01 AM EDT

{snip, a bunch of expensive imports and domestics}

[briv1016]

48. Let me guess, pickup, SUVs and anything with a V8 will be excluded.

Because "Real Americans" buy those cars.

[dembotoz]

53. heard your car can get an exclusion if it burns coal

clean coal