The Tariff Reform Coalition, a group comprised of 37 associations, is urging policymakers to remove Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum and reassess Section 301 tariffs on products coming from China, which were imposed by the Trump administration. Those efforts have also drawn the support of industry groups that represent automakers including Ford, as well as automotive dealers.
The Tariff Reform Coalition was formed in 2019 in an effort to ensure clear guidelines, increased congressional oversight, and control over presidential tariffs. The coalition is made up of a group of automotive, retail, manufacturing, and agriculture trade associations, including the American International Automobile Dealers Association and Autos Drive America.
The coalition released a document that contains four recommendations for the Biden administration to address the tariffs, which it says are having a significant impact on U.S. companies and workers due to higher input prices and foreign retaliation against U.S. exports. The Biden administration recently stated that it would pursue a fair international trading system that promotes economic growth and a review of current policies.
“At a time when so many businesses and workers in the United States are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge the Biden administration to reconsider the Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs that are causing serious damage to those already struggling,” said Rufus Yerxa, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, one of the coalition’s members. “Eliminating unwarranted, ineffective, and self-defeating import tariffs is key if we want to reengage with our allies and build our economy back better.”
Ford has been vocal from the start in regards to steel and aluminum tariffs. Former Ford CEO Jim Hackett claimed in 2018 that the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum cost the automaker around $1 billion in profits, which aligned with an estimate published by a Goldman Sachs analyst. Ford also blamed the tariffs for its decision to cancel the idea of importing the Ford Focus Active from China into the U.S., which ultimately left the Ford Mustang as the automaker’s sole passenger car offering in North America.
We’ll have more on the fate of these tariffs soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comments
They want us to buy American….but they want to buy import…keep the import tarriffs…..they are going to charge for it anyway….should be making computer chips here..too….
Build Back Better! The hits just keep coming, although there’s no one to blame but ourselves. Bleeping bleeps just couldn’t wait to start giving it to us again.
Isn’t that what these Unions voted for? Keep the Rich getting richer and the little guy wondering if he can get his house paid off one day.
Thanks for finally letting us know where you stand. Now unsubscribe me.
Disappointed in Ford for being short-sighted and sticking it to American workers who have supported them over the lean years at Ford. If not for American workers Ford would have been gone along time ago. They brag about employing more American people but at the same time screwing Americans. So hypocritical and fake.
A truer post has never been written!!!! From a man that has owned many, many fords (and still has an antique ford), I’m dismayed by those buying “American” (fords), when in fact so much of the ford product is not made in the USA!!!! Those wanting china to be able to dump steel into the US, and put Americans out of work-are the worst kind of citizen, stupid in fact, as they don’t seem to understand The economy effects them too!!!!
Meh. What’s the alternative to buying Ford if one wants to buy American? How many high profit Rams are still built in Mexico? GM builds high dollar crew cab trucks in Mexico. Ford at least builds it’s higher profit trucks in the USA and in fact has more hourly workers here than any one. Even huge GM has less American workers. That’s money being pumped into our economy by tax paying, wage earning citizens. I am all for made in USA steel and aluminum, but if it cost a company 2x as much for USA union steel and aluminum it is getting passed on to the consumer. I know Ford (GM and Ram certainly don’t pass on the savings to consumers from their high dollar lower wage Mexico built trucks) would not roll all of the savings on to consumers, but it would help. People will cry about an F-150 costing too much as a reason to buy a made in Mexico Ram, then cry because Ford doesn’t employ enough (employees the most $30/hr avg) workers and the highest priced made in USA union aluminum. Talk about wanting it all. Something has to give, because consumers buy with their wallet not their hearts.
With something in the range of 90% of our (USA) Pharmaceuticals made in china, finished and the chemicals necessary to produce, there are those that think we should be glad with those made here, and not complain about the rest!!! In order to have a secure nation, we need to mfg here. Ford is a multi-national corp, as of late, the idea that America should be their [ford] first priority has disappeared. Fords made in other countries sell for less than 1/2 of what they do here! Interestly enough, medications (identical, mfg in same plant) often sell for less than 1/2 price in other countries than here in the US. Something is wrong-really wrong with the politicos allowing this type of thing. It is fact, china’s dumping of steel and aluminum on the US market is a strategic move to destroy our industrial base, just as mfg in mexico, is a move by ford to destroy the automotive work force in the US. Nothing says high quality like “Made in mexico”.
China Joe and his cronies at it again. Fools !!! MAKE IT HERE!!!
China wants us dead or in shackles!
Raise the tariff and help our steel and aluminum industry. I remember when US Steel and ALCOA were king !
Let’s do it again.
I don’t think it’s reality. Unions demand too much money. Steel and aluminum workers in this country getting 10X what they are in other parts. Ford already pays more to it’s workers than huge GM. If we want cars built with USA metals, they’ll have to be assembled in Mexico or China so we can afford them. Not wanting that, but it’s a reality because of what Americans think they should get paid to install a hub cap. Nobody will line up to pay an extra $10k for a Ford because it’s made in USA with USA metal. It’s naive to think people are that loyal. Even if they want to be loyal to made in the USA, they have to be able to afford it. I can’t imagine Ford paying it’s employees any less. Most all of their recalls now are due to workers not tightening or installing something.
It appears, by your post, you believe those fords made in mexico, are not being recalled! I don’t believe you know what you’re talking about. When looking at recalls-BASED ON COST TO FORD-engineering, such as the crappy mt82 trans, or the 4cylinder problems (far to many to mention) are at the heart of ford’s recalls. The Bic Lighter approach, build them to last just past warranty-is alive and well. American workers are among the best in the world, the workers on the assembly line, has zero input as to the engineering problem(s) with drive trains.
I was happy with the tariffs on foreign sourced steel and aluminum. American cars should be made of American metal products. Maybe if this had been in place in 2014, my Fusion’s aluminum hoods leading edge wouldn’t be bubbled and corroded. A well known issue Ford will not address. Does anyone recall what cars looked like in the 70’s when the big 3 started buying foreign steel? Rust buckets with holes after 2-3 years. How many times do we need to repeat the past before we learn? Still, I feel like my ‘14 Fusion is the most solid and best built Ford I have ever owned. And it was made in Dearborn, MI., not in Mexico.
^ Flat Rock ^
Keep building the Chinese military so they can save a couple hundred dollars. Sad part is these tariffs were working. China wouldn’t have signed the recent trade agreement without them. These people care about the steel price but obviously don’t care about any American intellectual property. Screw the musicians and producers that put out albums and movies, just to have them copied and sold by the Chinese, behind their backs with the profits mostly going to the Chinese red army and the CCP. I bet they’re willing to ignore the Iranians sponsoring terrorists and killing American soldiers so they can sell the bastardized electric Mustang appliance there. I bleed blue, I’ve bought over 70 in the last 35 years, personal and for my businesses, but this makes it hard to keep doing it. Problem is I can’t buy foreign and the only other American company is GM. You can’t bleed blue and buy a Chevy, just can’t do it.
Mike, very well put post! I never thought I’d see the day, when buying a full sized Pick-up truck, I’d know it was American made if I purchased a Toyota! GM (aka obama motors) would be hard to swallow, although the GM V8s can compete with the ford ecobooms, and should be much longer in expected life span, don’t know about all other parts…..