Guest Commentary

Guest commentary: While the steel tariffs undermine U.S. automakers, global rivals invest in the future

Spools of steel in the yard at an ArcelorMittal Dofasco facility during a shift change in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs would be paused for 30 days after Canada agreed to implement border-security measures and steps to stop fentanyl trafficking. Photographer: Cole Burston/Bloomberg
Steel is subject to tariffs that artificially inflate the price of imports, allowing domestic steelmakers to hike their prices — without any requirement to improve their product. (BLOOMBERG)
JG
By:
Jon Gordon and Maricela Gutierrez, Jon Gordon Is Deputy Director For Light Duty Vehicles At CALSTART Maricela Gutierrez Is Senior Campaign Strategist At Industrious Labs
March 11, 2025 08:01 PM

Automakers are no strangers to supply chain challenges. From pandemic-era disruptions to rising material costs, every link in the chain has had to adapt. But now, a new hurdle looms: steel tariffs that threaten to inflate costs without delivering the cleaner, more competitive steel the industry needs.

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