The U.S. Commerce Department announced on Tuesday that it will review industry requests to impose new tariffs on imported auto parts in the coming weeks, citing national security concerns.
Back in May, President Trump introduced a 25% tariff on more than $460 billion worth of annual auto and auto parts imports. Some of those tariffs were later reduced following trade agreements with several countries. According to the department, U.S. automakers, parts manufacturers, or related trade associations can now request additional tariffs on parts considered vital for national security.
The department emphasized that the automotive industry is evolving quickly, especially in areas such as electric propulsion, autonomous driving, and other advanced technologies. These innovations, it added, could have key defense applications, making tariff protections more critical.
Just last month, the Commerce Department also raised steel and aluminum tariffs on over 400 products, including many auto parts, totaling $240 billion in annual imports. These included exhaust systems, electrical steel for electric vehicles, and components for buses.
However, industry groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and associations representing both domestic and foreign automakers, strongly opposed the move. In a letter, they urged the department to stop further expansions of tariffs, warning that the recent increases were implemented without sufficient notice. They argued this creates higher costs, more complexity, and greater uncertainty for American businesses.
