On Friday, the deadline set by the Commerce Department for companies to file comments on Donald Trump’s proposed increase in tariffs for vehicle imports expires.
Some automakers have already expressed their written concern, the most adamant of all being Toyota, which said on Thursday that “a hundred and thirty-seven thousand Americans” are not “a national security threat.”
Their statement came in response to Trump’s request to the Commerce Department to conduct an investigation and determine whether imports of vehicles are a threat to national security. Another response on the matter was offered on Thursday by Mazda as well.
Mazda’s release follows the tone set by Toyota but is a bit more restrained. Whereas Toyota went for the throat by saying Americans working for it are not a national security threat, Mazda steered clear of giving witty responses.
The Japanese did express their support for the 32,000 Americans who earn a living working for Mazda and Mazda dealerships. It goes on saying, just like Toyota, that should the 25 percent tariff on the import of automobiles and automobile parts be imposed, it will in effect be a tax for American consumers.
“It will significantly increase the cost of every new vehicle sold in America, regardless of where it is built,” Mazda says.
"As Mazda begins construction of our new auto factory in Huntsville, Alabama, we urge the Commerce Department to reject the premise that auto imports are a threat to national security."
The dissent caused by the proposed increase in tariff has been visible in the automotive industry since the beginning of the week.
It started with Harley-Davidson’s decision to move production of Europe-bound models from the U.S. to the international facilities as a means to avoid increased tariffs.
Also, Daimler became the first major automaker to admit that Trump’s increased tariffs would cause it to sell fewer than expected cars and at the same time, it would have higher than expected costs.
Their statement came in response to Trump’s request to the Commerce Department to conduct an investigation and determine whether imports of vehicles are a threat to national security. Another response on the matter was offered on Thursday by Mazda as well.
Mazda’s release follows the tone set by Toyota but is a bit more restrained. Whereas Toyota went for the throat by saying Americans working for it are not a national security threat, Mazda steered clear of giving witty responses.
The Japanese did express their support for the 32,000 Americans who earn a living working for Mazda and Mazda dealerships. It goes on saying, just like Toyota, that should the 25 percent tariff on the import of automobiles and automobile parts be imposed, it will in effect be a tax for American consumers.
“It will significantly increase the cost of every new vehicle sold in America, regardless of where it is built,” Mazda says.
"As Mazda begins construction of our new auto factory in Huntsville, Alabama, we urge the Commerce Department to reject the premise that auto imports are a threat to national security."
The dissent caused by the proposed increase in tariff has been visible in the automotive industry since the beginning of the week.
It started with Harley-Davidson’s decision to move production of Europe-bound models from the U.S. to the international facilities as a means to avoid increased tariffs.
Also, Daimler became the first major automaker to admit that Trump’s increased tariffs would cause it to sell fewer than expected cars and at the same time, it would have higher than expected costs.