General Motors has told the US Commerce Department any increase in automotive import tariffs could seriously threaten GM’s presence in its home market.
“Increased import tariffs could lead to a smaller GM, a reduced presence at home and risk less — not more — U.S. jobs,” GM said in a submission to the Commerce Department.
“The threat of steep tariffs on vehicle and auto component imports risks undermining GM’s competitiveness against foreign auto producers by erecting broad-brush trade barriers that increase our global costs, remove a key means of competing with manufacturers in lower-wage countries, and promote a trade environment in which we could be retaliated against in other markets.”
Usually companies hide behind industry organisations to lobby the government, but its willingness to put its name to the statement shows how serious GM and CEO, Mary Barra, is about changing President Donald Trump’s mind about a possible increase in automotive import tariffs.
The Trump administration has begun investigating whether automotive imports are a “security threat” to the US.
The popular Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck is built in both Mexico and US, and the Chevrolet Equinox SUV is made in Mexico and Canada.
