Trade
Trump’s Auto Tariffs Strike at the Heart of Japan’s Economy
Toyota, Honda, Subaru and other Japanese carmakers brace for a profit hit of more than $19 billion as economists flag the risk of a recession and a setback for key wage cycle
Vehicles bound for export in Yokohama in February.
Photographer: Toru Hanai/BloombergUS President Donald Trump’s tariffs threaten to batter Japan’s vital auto industry and derail the country’s long-standing efforts to engineer a sustainable economic recovery.
With the 25% US tariff now in place on cars and auto parts, Japan’s major automakers — including Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. — are bracing for a collective hit of more than $19 billion this fiscal year alone. And it’s not just the household names feeling the pain.