Automakers are reeling from an abrupt policy shift as the Trump administration implements new tariffs, including a 25-percent tax on new vehicles assembled outside of the U.S. Uncertainty over exactly how the tariffs will be implemented and how long they may last has resulted in new vehicles piling up at ports across the country. Now, some ports are nearing full capacity, turning into temporary storage yards for thousands of unsellable vehicles as automakers wait to see where the new trade policies will eventually land.
Per a report from Financial Times, brands like Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, and Aston Martin have sharply reduced or paused shipments to the United States. These manufacturers are instead relying on existing dealer inventory while they await clarity on the tariff timeline. Other companies have asked port operators to delay releasing vehicles in the hope that Trump may opt for a more favorable trade policy in the near future.
In the meantime, logistical pressure is intensifying, with auto and shipping executives warning that the congestion could become “quite ugly” within the next few weeks. Germany’s Bremerhaven port, which handles a substantial portion of transatlantic vehicle traffic, is preparing for a 50-percent decline in U.S.-bound trade.
To mitigate some of the financial fallout, automakers are resorting to storing vehicles in U.S. bonded warehouses to postpone tariff payments, while others are stacking up inventory in overseas lots. Canadian-made vehicles are also facing delays, particularly at the Detroit port of entry where rail-based deliveries are being held for inspection.
New tariffs targeting automotive parts is scheduled to take effect on May 3rd. Although the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) offers some exemptions for Mexico and Canada, global suppliers are expected to feel even more pressure. Automakers are now scrambling to trace the origin of every vehicle component, grappling with unclear definitions as to what exactly constitutes a “car part.”
Comments
Surprised they were even unloading the ships at this point.
Also surprised countries haven’t started handing down full trade embargoes against the US.
I guess many countries are “being the better person” in this situation. At the end of the day, there are business connections and partnerships that are extensive and beyond just Trump. One could argue its the reason the relationship with China is complicated and that is one of the reasons war hasn’t broke out yet. An embargo, will just plunge the globe into further depression. I think sane Americans are pleading that the rest of the world doesn’t follow us down the hole.
Ahh, yes, cause you want to p1$$ off the #1 GDP trade partner. Wise move my friend. Particulary when the EU has picked a fight with their only other source for natural gas and severely shackled their own economy. They currently don’t
have the cards, neither does ch1na. A global effort could work, but not without Japan, Korea or India, none of whom want any of the EU’s nor ch1nas nonsense.
So you’re opposed to fair trade and in favor of continuing to allow foreign Countries to impose large Tariffs on U.S. made exported goods with no consequences ? Yep, must be another Democrat yapping.
Or a Canadian, seem to be a lot of them here.
If they touch US soil, aren’t the tariffs immediately applied?
No, not necessarily. The imports have yet to be processed by customs. Same deal as when traveling internationally. You won’t get a passport stamp if you’re simply connecting flights in a foreign country/ not leaving the terminal.
Simple solution. Bring manufacturing of these vehicles and more back to USA. The Lordstown Assembly plant that GM shutdown is a perfect place to start. Don’t need to be a CEO or Board Member to figure this one out.
It is easier and cheaper to wait out four years for the next President to remove those tariffs than to invest in a new manufacturing plant. Both options will increase prices, but the wait period will lower prices sooner.
Would also be faster to wait. Who’s going to allow a permit for a new plant in their backyard? Where are the infrastructure and workforce coming from? Anything that does get approved won’t be online until after this administration.
Manufacturing never should have left the US. And 50 years of losses isn’t going to be reversed in a week.
State trip over themselves to land new plants.
Minnesota let Ford leave. And are doing their best to kick 3M out as well.
So yes there are states with red carpets waiting. But not all of them.
Tariffs are here to stay.
1) There is ABSOLUTELY no guarantee that there will be a Democrat in the White House in 2029.
2) Can you imagine a Democrat begging for the union vote by saying they are going to lift tariffs so that more of their jobs can be shifted to low-wage countries?
Given what idiot Trump is doing to this country the Democrats will win in 2026 and 2028.
With whom?
Trump’s done a lot of good. He’s sent back the criminals that crashed out borders and sucked off the American taxpayer. You can’t fix in a few months what it took Biden and Klutz Kamala four years to destroy.
Given what the demented, pedophile, law-ignoring Biden Crime Administration did to this Country from 2021 until Jan. 20th, 2025 it’s very apparent you’re full of hot air and have no clue whatsoever.
Let’s do a poll here,
Up vote for JD Vance 2028
Down vote for Newsom 2028. That’s the mostly like competition
“It is easier and cheaper to wait out four years for the next President to remove those tariffs than to invest in a new manufacturing plant.”
We will see.
1. The Reps have their political house in order and the Dems are completely lost and leaderless. It wouldn’t be a surprise of the Reps maintain a lot of control the next 12 years.
2. The world was and is already moving to more regionalized trade/manufacturing alliances, moving away from the NWO that was set up after WWII and Bretton Woods.
I’ve actually been using AI to evaluate many well known geopoliticians’ theories. Here are a few snippets of AI’s current predictions from a dataset using all of their theories as a launchpad (I have a long way to go with adding much more hard data points to form a more data driven theory from it all):
Globalization’s Evolution
Previous: Globalization regionalizes, growing ~3% annually through 2030, driven by services and tech (70% probability).
New Data: 3.2% trade growth for 2025, ASEAN (15.2%), India (3.5%), EU (25%) leading. Tariffs divert trade to Vietnam, Mexico (; McKinsey, Jan 2025).
Analysis:
Zeihan: Overstates collapse; $33 trillion trade and 3.2% growth show resilience.
Khanna: Connectivity holds—services (7%) and FDI ($1.5 trillion globally) drive integration.
Bremmer: Nationalism (tariffs) aligns, but trade persists.
Data confirms regional hubs over global networks, with no nearshoring trend (5,000 km average trade distance).
Refined Prediction: Global trade grows 3-4% annually through 2030, reaching $40 trillion, led by Asia (45% share). Regional blocs (ASEAN, EU) dominate, with tech (AI, 5G) and services offsetting tariff losses (5-10% of flows). Probability: 75% (up due to trade stability).
U.S. Role
Previous: U.S. leads via energy (30% LNG exports) and military, growth ~2%, limited interventions (75% probability).
New Data: 2025 growth at 2.5%, LNG exports 22% of global, dollar 80% of transactions (EIA, 2025; SWIFT, 2025). Debt at 117% of GDP constrains spending (U.S. Treasury, 2025).
Analysis:
Zeihan/Kaplan: Energy ($100 billion exports) and navy ($200 billion budget) confirm strength.
Bremmer/Fukuyama: Debt and polarization (2024 unrest) limit scope.
Data balances power (dollar dominance) with constraints (2.5% growth).
Refined Prediction: U.S. holds leadership with 25% of global GDP, 30% LNG exports by 2030. Growth stays 2-2.5%, focusing on Asia-Pacific and NATO, constrained by $35 trillion debt. Probability: 75% (unchanged, data confirms balance).
Rise of Regional Powers
Previous: India (7% growth), ASEAN, Turkey shape trade, security (80% probability).
New Data: India’s 6.4% growth, $90 billion FDI, $81 billion military. ASEAN FDI $230 billion, 15.2% trade. Turkey $260 billion exports, $25 billion military (RBI, 2025; SIPRI, 2025; ASEAN Investment Report, 2025).
Analysis:
Friedman/Khanna: India ($4 trillion GDP) and ASEAN align; Turkey’s MENA role grows.
Kaplan: India’s navy (50 ships) fits maritime power.
Data confirms economic and strategic gains.
Refined Prediction: India reaches $5 trillion GDP by 2030, 8% trade share. ASEAN hits 18% trade share, Turkey 4%. All boost military (India $100 billion), shaping Asia-MENA. Probability: 85% (up due to FDI, trade data).
You are wrong. The communist party won’t be back. We don’t want them mandate people.
Totally agree!
It wouldn’t happen overnight. Probably two years wouldn’t be enough time to shift production stateside.
Totally agree!!!
I agree; a fair playing field is all that is expected. If it were fair, counter-tariffs would never become necessary.
exactly…Every CEO should be blamed for selling out America
This is what capitalism does. People invest in companies that make the most profit. You make more profit by lowering your price relative to your competition. Price to the consumer doesn’t change, but it cost less for you to make it.
People keep taking about building cars in the US, where’s are the chips coming from for those cars? Trump’s destroying the new chip plants that are we’re being built by Biden’s Chips Act. Data centers have also be halted.
That’s the future, not welding metal together and installing seats. That’s going to be automated. New jobs won’t be created except for technicians. More cars are built with less people everyday.
America well be great moving forward not trying to recreate some past that never existed except in the minds of “some” people.
I’m waiting on a 2025 Buick Envision front bumper. Sure hope it get here before May!
Get ready for the price on it when it arrives or get ready for your insurance to take a quantum leap if they are paying.
Case in point made well by the photo. It’d be interesting to see if the ports from where those foreign cars were shipped from, looks the same with American-made autos. I think not. The tariffs must continue to equal the imbalance.
Tariffs will never equalize trade imbalanve becuse the U.S. consumer wants to pay less. Would you accept to pay more for everything you buy because it was made in the U.S.? Or would you allow your income to drop so your company can sell its products cheaper than imports? I bet both answers will be “No”.
Quality never comes cheap.
Neither does labor in America come cheap. Prices will go up, way up in certain industries such as clothing and food.
Bull.
American giant- selling T shirts using American grown cotton, American milled dyes and weaved 100% in North Carolina, right now available for 12$ at Walmart tarrif free. Amazing what can be done when you pay workers 20-30/hr and their passionate. The problem is when your corporate board realizes that the US gov is incompetent and screwed up the trade agreements so that same company can’t sell abroad, limiting their market to 1/16th the global population.
I would gladly pay more for products made in the US. It comes down to what kind of country we want to have. Sending our jobs and wealth to China has allowed them to build their military to be able to defeat any nation on earth. That Chinese-made TV you saved $100 on is not going to do you any good when the Chinese military is on our shores. If you are a taxpayer, your share of the national debt is $260,000. Who is going to pay it? Certainly not the tax-paying manufacturers that used to be in the US and are now in China. There will come a day when this nation will collapse with all the debt and you are going to be looking at a situation like Greece.
100%
God you yammer on.
At least I have something to say
Going to be in the market for some ag equipment.
The American made tractor I’d love to have starts at over $200,000. Top end machines are over $1 million now. As much as I cringe at American assembled (with Chinese and India parts) or straight-up imported, I might not have a choice.
And that’s due entirely cause of the tarrifs foreign contries impose on us. EU has a 25% import tarrifs for equipment, I believe India has a 30%, and both those countries negotiate a sub 10% with most other countries like Brazil, so when AGCO (CaseIH/New Holland/Deutz/ McCormick) and Deere build tractors, they build them overseas and them import them to here-tarrif free, despite that the Italians that make them get 5 weeks vacation and take 2 hours lunch breaks.
Dear clueless…..since you haven’t figured it out yet, and based on your previous comments on here, never will, here’s some information and fact for you to ponder. The purpose of these new tariffs is NOT to “Equalize Trade im-Balance”, got that ? They are a bargaining tool intended to bring other Countries to the table to negotiate lowering or eliminating their tariffs on U.S. made products. There are already multiple Countries seeking to meet with Trump as a result.
BUY AMERICAN
That what people in other industrial countries do with their products. But when it is encouraged that Americans should do the same with American products, they are labeled and ridiculed. Trump as President of the United States has a empirical responsibility to work out better trade deals for his country using what ever means at his disposal. The Trump administration have as a primary policy implementing increased tariffs, whining and crying about it wont help. The US is now pivoting back to being a major production country to strengthen the economy so it can deal with a rising and existential CCP Chinese threat.
The Lordstown Plant shut down during Trump 1st term would make a great place to reopen and produce Buick Envsion. Get it made HERE instead of China please.
Great let’s just open it up tomorrow and start building cars. That’s how it works – right? First you need to decide what can be build there. Then you tell your engineers to stop whatever they’re doing and instead create a plan to bring an old plant that you didn’t own back online.
After you design a layout, you have to order all the equipment. That equipment isn’t sitting in a warehouse it has to be built. So then you procure all that equipment from vendors that don’t exist in the US. Then you need people to install this equipment. So the people GM has has to stop what they were doing to install equipment at a previously unplanned plant.
In the end, years later GM has a new plant in the US. Meanwhile other GM vehicles are stale because the resources used to get an unplanned plant up and running because a president doesn’t know how to negotiate.
And that’s why your not in corporate management. GM has partial ownership and all the other owners of lordstown on speed dial. They can make a short term lease the other owners can’t refuse by tomorrow, go over to Mexico and grab lots of the tooling that is down there and have it up to lordstown within a week, have temp agencies start finding people and have the lines ready in a month, or at least that’s how Elon does it cause he has balls and knows how to get things done. Mary and Farley are political CEO’s and take 2-3 years to decide what’s for breakfast.
Helloooo, TTT(tariffs, trumpy, trump) is imposing tariffs but does not how he will collect them and does not give instructions how to pay them. Maybe he will have to sign another BB(black binder to collect the tariffs. By the way, if you would pill up all the BB he signed in the past 3 months , I am sure the pile would be taller the he is. What an idiot
Why did auto makers move production out of the US in the first place?
Greedy executives that did not realize that when you send American jobs overseas in masse, you are destroying the very market that supports your product.
It’s called a greedy union obligation. Unions drive the labor cost here.
The greedy executives understood exactly what they were doing. They were looking for instant economic gratification, not being interested in or caring about the consequences long term as long as they got theirs. It was a hooray for me screw them mentality.
Why do foreign countries place tariffs on U.S.-made goods? Where is the outrage on that?
This article is unclear. The Financial Times article it references discusses Mazda, Audi, Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin and unnamed car companies producing vehicles in Canada whose vehicles are getting stuck in Detroit. But the images in this article show scores of Chevrolet Blazers and make it seem like GM is among the ones whose cars are getting stuck in port. Is that the case or are the pictures generic placeholders? I cannot find any information on Chevrolet vehicles being held up at port.
Looks to me like the photos show lots full of the 2024-2025 Chevrolet Trax.
could understand UAE import cars, because they have no car factories, but do not understand USA people buying a audi imported or a bmw imported if they have local factories there, buy local
Steve, heads I win tails you loose!
Jim it seems you do not care about corporate greed but god forbid the working man gets a fair shake with union representation and you mischaracterize them as greedy.
There will be “price adjustment” stickers added alongside the MSRP Monroney stickers for tariffs and higher shipping charges to cover the storage costs on these vehicles.
@GM heavy dependence on Chinese production and technology has made it particularly vulnerable to Chinese tariffs, reflecting strategic choices that favored short-term benefits over long-term stability and national interests.
The leadership at GM, including certain union representatives, has prioritized personal interests over the welfare of the company, its shareholders, and the broader US National interest through technology transfers to SAIC.
Their decisions have not consistently honored the legacy and responsibilities tied to GM’s historic role.
@USTreasury should compel GM to immediately sever ties with SAIC and FAW to mitigate technology risks and realign the company with US national interests.
As the largest private shareholder, Mary Barra’s practice of selling shares shortly after they vest raises concerns about her commitment to GM’s long-term vision. Questions persist about whether her leadership is best suited to navigate GM through its current challenges.
UAW is left assembling Completely Knocked Down (CKD) from China to call it “American Made”. Unacceptable.
It’s known as CUSMA. Canada, US, Mexico, Agreement, by the way.
Believe it or not for some of you, not everything Trump says is true.