Trump imposes 25% duty on truck imports to protect American manufacturers

President of the United States Donald Trump announced that starting November 1, all imported medium and heavy trucks will be subject to a 25% duty. About writes Reuters.

Last month, Trump claimed that the duties on large trucks were being imposed for national security reasons to support companies such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, and Freightliner.

It is unclear whether these new duties will apply to large vehicles imported from countries that have trade agreements with the US, such as Japan and the EU, where a 15% duty rate applies to light vehicles.

The new tariffs will apply to delivery trucks, garbage trucks, municipal vehicles, school buses, tractors and heavy commercial vehicles.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposed the decision, noting that the main suppliers of trucks to the U.S. are Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Finland, allies that do not pose a threat to national security.

Mexico is the largest exporter of medium and heavy trucks to the United States. According to official data, the volume of such deliveries has tripled since 2019 to about 340,000 units per year.

According to the USMCA, duties are not levied if at least 64% of the truck's value is created in North America (through local parts, raw materials, or labor).

Mexico has already protested, saying that on average, 50% of the components in trucks exported to the United States are of American origin.

• On September 26, Trump said that starting October 1, 2025, all patented medicines produced abroad will be subject to a ban on all patented drugs, 100% duty will be applied. Companies building plants in the US will avoid this tariff.
• September 30, Trump introduced new import duties wood, lumber and derivative products (wooden products).