Ohio leaders in Congress respond to Trump auto tariffs
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - Members of Ohio’s congressional delegation are responding to President Trump’s new 25% tariffs on auto parts.
The White House hopes the move will boost domestic manufacturing.
“This will continue to spur growth,” Trump said this week. “We’ll effectively be charging a 25% tariff.”
U.S. automakers import car parts from around the world, meaning the companies could face higher costs during production.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat from Toledo, said in a statement Thursday that U.S. leaders need to address the “manufacturing and technology job washout in the automotive and transportation industries” by doing more than just imposing a 25% tariff on auto imports.
“We must reinvest in American manufacturing and the working-class communities across our country that have been hollowed out due to broken trade deals and the burden of outsourcing,“ Kaptur said. ”I urge the Trump administration to work with Congress and assemble a task force to carefully negotiate reciprocity agreements related to the VAT tax that accelerated foreign imports into the US for decades, eroding American production.”
Kaptur went on to push for the United Auto Workers to have a seat and a say at the table for any plan that aims to boost the American auto industry.
“Working-class communities have been made the victim for decades of industrial outsourcing of critical machining and tooling technologies, metals and alloys forming, assembly, and even the innovation of manufacturing machines themselves,” Kaptur said. “We must also recognize and invest in the vital role of mechanics, technicians, machinists, and repair specialists in designing and inventing the future of overground propulsion. America has a long road ahead in rebuilding its industrial capacity, and we welcome the challenge.”
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who built a car dealership empire before running for the U.S. Senate, said he supports the president’s tariffs. He called April 2, the day when President Trump plans to impose a new round of tariffs, “liberation day,” echoing the words of the president.
“You’re going to see more auto workers employed in Toledo, you’re going to see the plant fully utilized, and more American manufacturing, not just at that plant, but at all the suppliers that serve that plant,” Moreno said. “You’re going to see a renaissance in Toledo unlike anything you’ve ever seen.”
The senator said he believes that tariffs are going to benefit consumers and auto workers in the long term.
He also said he doesn’t think it will take long to see results.
“It’s going to happen very, very fast,” Moreno said. “We have capacity in Toledo, we have capacity in Defiance, we have capacity in Lordstown. The Indiana and Illinois plants can be brought online very quickly. We have underutilized plants in Michigan that can add production and capacity.”
He said if companies want to sell cars in America, they should make them in America.
“If you don’t want to do that, we’re not going to let you get access to our market for free. We’re going to charge you at least a 25% premium to do that. That protects the auto jobs in America from being sold out to low-cost wages all over the world. We’re just not going to continue to make that happen.”
We asked Moreno about concerns people may have about prices on cars increasing later this year as a result of the tariffs.
“If you’re worried about prices going up, you should buy a car this weekend,” Moreno said. “There’s nothing better for the economy than trading in a 10-year-old car and getting a brand new one. You have great auto dealers in the Toledo area that would be more than happy to take great care of you.”
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