In a statement released by the Auto Care Association, Bill Hanvey, ACA president and CEO, warned that President Trump's expansion of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will put U.S. manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage. The new policy, announced Feb. 10, eliminates all country exemptions and places a 25% blanket tariff rate effective March 12, with Turkish steel products subject to a 50% rate.
"The expansion of these tariffs will have far-reaching consequences beyond the steel and aluminum industries," said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. "Vehicle parts, along with countless other downstream industries, depend on a stable supply of raw material to create and provide the countless vehicles parts that keep our families, businesses, and economy running."
The order removes previously granted exemptions to countries such as Canada, Mexico, and the European Union, though Australia may receive an exemption due to its trade surplus with the U.S.
Canada leads U.S. steel imports, followed by Brazil and Mexico. It’s also the top aluminum supplier, followed by the United Arab Emirates and China.
The Auto Care Association said it “remains supportive of the Trump administration's broader goals of achieving fair and balanced international trade relationships; expanding job creation and opportunities in the United States, and lowering the cost of living for all Americans.”
