President Donald Trump announced that 25% tariffs on medium- and heavy-duty truck imports will take effect on November 1, marking the latest expansion of his tariff strategy aimed at bolstering domestic industries.
The duties were initially slated to begin on October 1, but the timeline was delayed following a lobbying campaign by Detroit’s legacy automakers. Stellantis, for example, has sought exemptions or reduced tariffs on medium-duty Ram pickups built in Mexico, while General Motors and Ford have opposed those efforts, arguing that exemptions would give Stellantis a cost advantage over U.S.-assembled trucks that already face tariffs on imported parts.
Trump’s decision follows a Commerce Department investigation launched in April under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which permits tariffs on imports deemed critical to national security. The probe examined trucks over 10,000 pounds and related parts, concluding that a small group of foreign suppliers accounted for most U.S. imports through what officials described as “predatory trade practices.”
In an Oct. 6 social media post, Trump said the measure was needed to protect domestic manufacturers from “unfair outside competition.” Supporters of the move, including the Coalition for a Prosperous America, framed the tariffs as a major win for U.S. workers and manufacturers that would strengthen the heavy truck sector against foreign rivals.
The new levies add pressure to an industry already affected by tariffs on steel and aluminum and by tighter environmental regulations. Higher import costs are expected to raise prices on vehicles used across shipping, construction and municipal services.
The financial stakes are significant. Roughly 245,000 medium- and heavy-duty trucks worth more than $20 billion were imported into the U.S. last year, according to Commerce Department data. The tariffs could affect companies such as Daimler Truck Holding AG’s Freightliner, Volvo Group’s Mack Trucks, and Paccar Inc.’s Peterbilt and Kenworth, all of which produce trucks both inside and outside the United States for global markets.
The truck tariffs are part of a broader wave of industry-specific trade measures. The administration has already imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper, automobiles and auto parts, and will soon apply new levies on softwood timber, lumber, kitchen cabinets, vanities and upholstered wood products, with some taking effect Oct. 14 and others on Jan. 1. Additional Section 232 investigations are underway covering foreign-made solar panels, commercial aircraft, semiconductors, critical minerals, robotics, medical devices and industrial machinery.
These targeted tariffs give the administration more legal flexibility as broader country-level duties, imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, face legal challenges. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Nov. 5, a case that could shape the future of Trump’s tariff authority.
