Jacob Sagert ,
April 8, 2025
Auto tariffs are steering jobs back to the US
Originally published by the Washington Examiner
For decades, American autoworkers have borne the brunt of plant closures, wage cuts, and offshoring — all in the name of “free trade.” Corporations, enabled by broken trade deals, hollowed out industrial communities and shipped good-paying jobs overseas. That chapter has closed.
President Donald Trump’s bold move to impose a 25% tariff on imported automobiles and key auto parts signals a major shift, one that the United Auto Workers union is calling a victory for American laborers.
UAW President Shawn Fain, once a Trump critic and Harris supporter, put it plainly: “Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with today’s actions.”
For too long, automakers have chased after cheap foreign labor, shuttering American plants as they rake in record profits. These tariffs send a clear message: If you want to sell in the world’s most lucrative auto market, you must build in America — and hire American workers.