Auto industry unites to oppose Trump import tariffs

The U.S. auto industry is escalating a lobbying push to keep President Donald Trump from imposing steep new tariffs on imported cars and parts that executives warn could cripple a sector already facing a slowdown.

Groups representing many arms of the industry automakers, dealers, parts suppliers and aftermarket companies alike are in lockstep in their opposition of new levies being considered by the White House, a rarity for an industry that often disagrees on major policies.

And despite months of aggressive lobbying to block new tariffs, industry officials worry the new levies are much more than just a bargaining chip in Trump’s trade talks with the European Union, Japan and China.

“Nobody in the auto industry supports a 25 percent import tariff, unlike in the steel and aluminum tariff situation where you had the steel industry advocating for relief,” said Jennifer Thomas, vice president of federal affairs at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. Her group represents a dozen car makers including General Motors Co., Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp.

Trump is reviewing the recommendations of a Commerce Department probe into whether imported light vehicles and parts represent a threat to national security. Commerce conducted the investigation under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, the same provision the president used last year to slap duties on steel and aluminum.

Under section 232, Trump has until May 18 to decide how to respond to the Commerce recommendations. But White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Thursday that the president may take longer, without elaborating.

The probe covered imports of vehicles including SUVs, vans and light trucks, as well as auto parts.

Subaru of America President Tom Doll visited Washington earlier this week and warned the company’s more than seven year-long streak of monthly U.S. sales gains may end if new tariffs are imposed.

Fly ins

“I came up here specifically to talk to our Congress people about these tariffs and the impact that they’re potentially having on our entire distribution chain and how that eventually is going to work itself through the distribution chain into our pricing,” Doll said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Tuesday. “This is something that we’re getting a lot of sympathy with from the Congress folks, so we’re hopeful that this resolves itself.”

A 25% tariff on all autos and parts could boost new vehicle prices by an estimated $4,400 on average, according to a 2018 study by the Center for Automotive Research. Imported vehicles prices could rise by $6,875 per vehicle and U.S.-made autos may see a $2,270 bump, according to the report, which estimated more than 700,000 U.S. jobs could be lost as well.

Business conditions in the auto industry are beginning to deteriorate due to softening auto sales, rising interest rates, vehicle transaction prices at or near record highs in addition to rising costs from Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs and new levies on certain auto parts from China, said John Bozzella, president of the Association of Global Automakers.

“We have a significant challenge ahead of us if these go into effect,” he said.

Beyond the new-vehicle market, driveway mechanics would see the price to replace brakes pads and rotors jump by $130 under the new levies, said Gabrielle Hopkins, vice president of federal affairs at the aftermarket industry’s Auto Care Association.

The effects could be even greater. Those predictions don’t account for potential retaliation by other countries, which Bozzella said would be inevitable.

“Our trading partners will not stand idly by and accept this. There will be retaliation,” said Bozzella, whose group represents Honda Motor Co., Hyundai Motor Co. and others.

Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum have already added roughly $400 per car on average in additional costs to Ford Motor Co., GM and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council that represents those companies.

“That $400 in an extremely competitive global industry has an impact on our ability to compete in export markets,” said Blunt, a former Missouri governor.

Trade concerns are clouding the outlook for parts suppliers, in particular for the smaller players deeper in the auto supply chain who are reporting the highest degree of pessimism since U.S. auto sales collapsed in 2008 and 2009 during the financial crisis, said Ann Wilson, senior vice president of government affairs at the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, which represents auto suppliers.

Already, some companies are shuttering plants due to higher steel and aluminum costs and as automakers shift component purchases overseas to avoid those soon metal levies, Wilson said.