US Auto Tariffs Are a Recipe for More Big, Boring Trucks
Americans will have even fewer affordable car options with Trump’s blanket 25% tariff on all new vehicle imports.
A new era.
Photographer: The Washington Post/The Washington PostThe manicured lawns of US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort were crammed earlier this month with beautiful vehicles from European luxury brands like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bugatti. The annual Palm Event was certainly an opportunity for the superrich to schmooze and show off, but it was also a celebration of automotive excellence, international specialization and consumer choice.
I was reminded of it on Wednesday evening when Trump — who’s owned many European luxury cars over the years — announced a blanket 25% tariff on all new vehicle imports, as well as key components. The president cited national security grounds, but his aim is clear — to force manufacturers to re-shore production and thereby create US manufacturing jobs.