Summary
Trump warned automakers not to raise prices after announcing a 25% tariff on imported vehicles starting April 3, claiming the tariffs would be “great” and benefit U.S. manufacturing.
Industry leaders, including GM, Ford, and Stellantis CEOs, expressed concerns about inevitable price increases, with experts warning tariffs could add thousands to car costs.
Auto suppliers stated that absorbing tariffs is impossible, and dealers fear affordability challenges for consumers.
While the United Auto Workers union support the move as a job creator, trade groups predict higher prices and fewer manufacturing jobs.
Prices increase in response to increase in costs- this is so basic it’s covered in introductory econ courses and applies to all businesses. Adding costs to production has to be reflected in the final price. Tariffs pretty much never help consumers- they prop up inefficient industries that can’t compete with global trade. In general, global trade with low tariffs is better because of specialization
Well, it doesn’t HAVE to be,.depending on the margins, the increase, how responsive consumers are to price increases in that good, and whether or not it’s strategically beneficial to eat the slimmer margin for some reason.
Practically a public 25% tariff is fantastic cover for a 30% price increase these days.