President Trump’s new 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts drew strong support from former White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, who called it “the perfect move” during an appearance on . The tariffs, set to take effect April 3 for vehicles and May 3 for auto parts, aim to revive U.S. manufacturing but will likely raise car prices across the board.
Navarro argued these tariffs protect American jobs and counter unfair trade practices, stating they would force automakers to shift production back to the U.S. He emphasized that previous trade deals like the USMCA failed to address national security risks from foreign auto imports. The policy includes strict rules to prevent overstating U.S. content in vehicles, with penalties for inaccurate reporting.
– : Up to 75% of their U.S.-sold vehicles rely on Mexican/Canadian production, risking price hikes (e.g., a $80,000 RAM truck could jump to $100,000).
– : While 80% of its vehicles are U.S.-made, Mexican-produced models like the Maverick pickup face 25% tariffs.
– : Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, and Mercedes face heavy costs due to imported engines/transmissions, even for U.S.-assembled vehicles.
Analysts predict 15-20% price increases for tariff-affected vehicles and 5% hikes for exempt models. Affordable crossovers like the Hyundai Venue ($24,000) could rise by over $4,000, pushing many buyers out of the market.
Navarro’s comments aired on Rob Schmitt Tonight, part of Newsmax’s conservative-leaning programming available to 100M+ U.S. households. The network promotes free trials for its streaming service, NEWSMAX+, and emphasizes platforms like YouTube and Truth Social for audience engagement.
Critics warn the tariffs could strain supply chains and inflate costs, but Navarro insists they are necessary to counter China’s economic influence and rebuild domestic industry.
