Trump's tariff crusade drags U.S. auto sector into a costly stalemate

According to co-founder Robert Kuttner, President Trump's aggressive tariff policy has deepened the pre-existing woes of the U.S. auto industry, especially after a 50 percent duty was placed on profitable trucks manufactured in Ontario, inflating the cost of models such as the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-350. He points out that the existing 25 percent tariff on cars and light trucks will rise to 50 percent on Jan. 1, and that Canadian steel and aluminum will be subject to the same rate, further straining manufacturers that rely on cross-border supply chains.

Kuttner also highlights the administration’s reversal of clean-energy initiatives, including an executive order that scrapped the 50 percent EV sales target for 2030 and froze a $5 billion charging-network program, which eliminated the $7,500 EV tax credit and prompted Ford to cancel its F-150 electric pickup and GM to revert a plant to gas-powered SUVs. He warns that China now produces about 75 percent of the world’s EVs, leaving Detroit lagging behind. In the political arena, Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers has declined to address the tariff issue, exposing the party to criticism over its economic record.