Washington ponders expanding tariffs on auto parts imports

The US Department of Commerce will review requests in the coming weeks to impose tariffs on additional auto parts imports on national security grounds, the department said in a statement today, Sept. 16.

The department noted that the auto industry is rapidly advancing in areas such as alternative powertrains, autonomous driving systems, and other innovations, and that domestic automakers may seek to add products deemed critical to national security or defense applications.

The review follows last month’s decision to raise tariffs on more than 400 steel and aluminum products, including auto-related components such as exhaust systems and electrical steel for electric vehicles and buses.

In May, President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on annual imports of cars and auto parts valued at more than $460 billion, before later reaching agreements with some countries to ease those duties.