TMTPOST -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday issued new threat of sectoral tariffs.
Credit：Adobe Stock
Trump said he plans a new 25% levy on medium-and heavy-duty trucks next month. “Beginning November 1st, 2025, all Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks coming into the United States from other Countries will be Tariffed at the Rate of 25%,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
The decision about tariffs on certain trucks are set to based on an investigation launched in April by the U.S. Commerce Department into effects of imported certain vehicles on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The probe targets medium-and heavy-duty trucks over 10,000 pounds and their parts, noting that most U.S. imports come from a few foreign suppliers accused of “predatory trade practices.”
Trump did not provide more details on Monday, including whether the new duties would stack on top of previously enacted levies or how tariff deals with trading partners like the European Union and Japan might be affected, if at all. The Trump administration has stuck deals with Japan and the European Union, allowing to impose as much as 15% tariffs on light-duty vehicles from these trading partners.
It’s unclear if the EU and Japan will face that tariff rate for larger vehicles. Larger vehicles include everything from delivery trucks, garbage trucks, public utility trucks, transit, shuttle, and school buses and tractor-trailer trucks as well as semi-trucks and heavy-duty vocational vehicles.
Data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce showed Mexcio, Canada, Japan, Germany and Finland are top five exporters of medium-and heavy-duty trucks to the U.S. The business association urged the Commerce Department not to levy new truck tariffs as all of the five exporters are “allies or close partners of the United States posing no threat to U.S. national security.”
Trump last month previewed a new wave of sectoral tariffs up to 100% coming this month. In a slew of Truth Social posts on September 25, Trump said he will impose a 100% tariff on all branded or patented pharmaceutical products, a 50% Tariff on all Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Vanities, and associated products, a 30% Tariff on Upholstered Furniture, and a 25% tariff on all heavy trucks. All of these levies will come into effect on October 1.
The heavy truck levies are part of efforts to save domestic manufacturers. They will protect U.S. companies, such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Mack Trucks, from “the onslaught of outside interruptions”, Trump said, citing reasons, including “above all else”, national security.
Trump Last week signed a proclamation about new tariffs hitting the furniture industry.
U.S. imports of softwood timber and lumber shall be subject to a 10% tariff rate, and imports of certain upholstered wooden products will face a 25% tariff, according to the proclamation released by the White House on September 29. The tariffs are set to take effect on October 14, per the order. Some rates would increase January 1 under the order, with certain upholstered wood products subject to a higher 30% levy and kitchen cabinets and vanities then being hit with a 50% import tax.
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