US reciprocal and current tariffs: Potential impact for the Automotive industry

What happened?

The Trump administration’s implementation of “reciprocal tariffs” continues to be dynamic, prompting a challenging trade landscape for many multinational companies. The President signed an executive order on April 2, made announcements, and released memoranda on this matter. In summary, the new tariffs in place as of the date of this Insight include the following (this list does not reflect all previously existing tariffs):

• A 10% base tariff on most imported goods (with the exception of certain exempt goods included in Annex II of the April 2 executive order such as smartphones, computers, other electronic devices, and semiconductors) from all countries (except Canada, Mexico, and China).  
• Adjusted country-specific tariffs of up to 50% (with certain exceptions as noted above), however, a 90-day pause (ending July 9) is in place for the adjusted country-specific tariffs to allow time for individual country trade negotiations. The exempted goods are expected to be addressed in separate forthcoming executive orders on tariffs, and the US Department of Commerce has initiated a Section 232 investigation to assess their impact on national security. The comment period closed on May 7, and the expectation is that implementation of specific tariffs on semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment will be accelerated well before the 270-day requirement. 
• On April 3, a 25% tariff was imposed on foreign-manufactured automobiles. Tariffs on certain automotive parts were set to be enforced no later than May 3; however, on April 29 President Trump signed an executive order easing certain tariffs on automobiles and auto parts to provide relief to US automakers impacted by recent trade policies. While the 25% tariff on imported automobiles remains in effect, the order eliminates stacking tariffs (see US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) tariff requirements released May 2). Stacking rules as applied to the auto industry are an area the trade community continues to monitor. 
• All other goods from Canada and Mexico that do not qualify as originating under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) remain subject to earlier 25% tariffs. Duty free status under the agreement remains for those goods that qualify. Certain imports from Canada are currently subject to a lower additional ad valorem duty of 10%. The April 2 executive order specifies that upon the termination or suspension of the earlier orders specific to Canada and Mexico, the 25% tariff will revert to a 12% reciprocal tariff rate. 
• Tariffs on Chinese imports of 125% have been implemented (up to 145% with existing tariffs included). The elimination of the de minimis exemption for low-value imports from China and Hong Kong went into effect May 2.

A wider industry perspective can be found in PwC’s US Tariff Industry Analysis Tax Insight published on April 22 and additional information can be found in the US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) tariff requirements. The administration recently noted that more than 100 countries wish to negotiate trade imbalances with a drive towards an economic level playing field and fair-trading system. As of the date of this Insight, no change in previously noted rates has been announced. Note: The UK-US trade agreement announced on May 8 includes significant adjustments to automotive tariffs. Under the agreement, US tariffs on British-made cars are reduced from 25% to 10% for up to 100,000 vehicles annually, effectively covering the UK's current export volume. In exchange, the UK is considering lowering its tariffs on US car imports from 10% to 2.5%, aligning with US rates on other trading partners. While the agreement marks progress in UK-US trade relations, further negotiations are expected and remain fluid.

The administration’s trade policies are prompting significant implications for companies operating in or trading with the United States, including companies within the Automotive industry. Many automotive companies currently utilize offshore or cross-border operations within their global footprint and supply chains. PwC’s Industry Analysis data reflects that the total tariff measures could increase from $8 billion to nearly $78 billion per year (with the implied average tariff rate increase from 2% to 18% on US imports), although that figure does not take into account countermeasures that trading partners may impose, or behavioral adjustments that companies may make, in reaction to US policy changes. 

This Tax Insight serves as an update to our March 17 Industry Analysis, which previously included forecasted reciprocal tariff rates at that time.  Note: PwC’s updated Industry Analysis utilizes the tariffs that have been implemented by the United States as of April 15 (based on guidance and specific factors explained in the next section) as well as potential tariffs on so-called Annex II products.

Multinational companies in the Automotive industry should evaluate how these trade policies affect their global business, including impacts on imports and exports and potential opportunities. Close coordination between procurement, supply chain, tax, and other C-suite leaders to formulate short, medium, and long-term strategies is critical, along with data-driven analysis. Advanced tools are available that companies can leverage using their US customs data to quantify the impact — often with unexpected results. This analysis can serve as a powerful foundation to identify “no-regret” actions and to help mitigate risks.

For more details, read the full Tax Insight linked below.