Trump will decide if auto imports are a national security threat, as EU retaliation looms

[Zorro]

Source: LA Times

President Trump received the findings of a probe into whether imported vehicles pose a national security threat, as the European Union threatened retaliation for any tariffs the Trump administration might impose.

Trump has 90 days to decide whether to act on the findings, which were delivered by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Sunday with no hint of the findings. Commerce started the investigation in May under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act — the same provision the administration used last year to slap tariffs on steel and aluminum.

Trump has threatened levies of as much as 25% on foreign-made vehicles. American and foreign-based auto manufacturers and dealers have lobbied against it. Companies and governments from Europe to Asia have warned Trump that tariffs on car imports would hurt the U.S. economy and disrupt the global auto industry, which is already mired in a slump.

An auto trade war would deal a blow to carmakers including General Motors Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., which have built their supply chains to take advantage of countries with low duties. The Commerce probe covers auto parts as well as assembled vehicles.

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-trump-auto-tariffs-20190218-story.html

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Will he or won't he? I suspect Trump will declare imported vehicles and parts to be a national security threat and impose tariffs. He loves tariffs.

[greymattermom]

1. Like vehicles made in

Mexico? Canada?

[kysrsoze]

2. I think this is part of putin's plan to wreck the U.S. and its reputation.

No good will come of doing this to auto companies who all build cars in the U.S. we will also end up with a severe shortage of parts, thereby crippling U.S. production and increasing the price of automobiles and their spare parts.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. +1

[Perseus]

8. This is Putin telling the orange buffoon the steps found in the dictator's manual

Isolation is one of the tricks...make enemies of everyone, we will protect you... 1984 - George Orwell

[Lonestarblue]

4. Congress needs to take back its power over tariffs.

Trump is determined to drive us into a recession, which will reward Putin, while alienating every ally we’ve ever had. By the time Trump is out of office, the US will have zero friends in the world.

Congress also needs to change the natiinal emergency law and put some constraints on how it can be used. No president should have the power to declare a national emergency without some oversight by Congress. The 9//11 attacks were a national emergency; building a stupid wall is not.

[hedda_foil]

5. It's possible if & when Dems have a filibuster proof Senate majority, House Majority and Presidency.

[keithbvadu2]

6. Wait and see what Putin tells his puppet, Trump.

Wait and see what Putin tells his puppet, Trump.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. But the distaff side is this - think Maserati, Ferrari, Porche, Lamborghini

Rolls Royce. Will his 1%er buddies want to pay more?

(the rest of us are already screwed)

[Perseus]

9. When his bodies are worth billions, not millions, its just pennies

They can afford it, they are making more money from the Tax cuts. I know they are greedy, you make a good point, but the tax money they are saving more than pays for those cars. And lets face it, there must be loopholes to deduct those expenses.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. Oddly enough

many from that realm of wealth often joke that their "pinching pennies" is why they are wealthy and coupled with their greed, precludes them from wanting to be forced to "pay more" for something.

[Canoe52]

10. That BMW I saw today was looking a little shifty...

Maybe I should report it to Homeland Security?

[BumRushDaShow]

12. ...

[kimbutgar]

13. Bet he planning on getting some kickbacks from manufacturers