EXCLUSIVE: Small Business Committee Chairman explains why Trump's foreign auto tariffs are a necessary "decisive action"
"This decisive action by President Trump underscores a resolute commitment to fortify American manufacturing," Rep. Roger Williams told the Washington Reporter.
President Donald Trump’s economic policies continue to lead to massive investment and new jobs in the manufacturing sector. The White House announced tariffs on foreign-made heavy and medium trucks to encourage made-in-America production. Sources on the Hill told the Washington Reporter that this move is smart economics and smart politics.
Rep. Roger Williams (R., Texas), the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, is one of them. Williams, a longtime car dealer himself, understands the issue better than most policymakers.
He told the Reporter that “this decisive action by President Trump underscores a resolute commitment to fortify American manufacturing. By imposing a 25 percent tariff on imported medium- and heavy-duty trucks, we are not just protecting our domestic industry; we are investing in the competitiveness of our workforce.”
“As a Representative of North Texas, home to Peterbilt’s manufacturing facility, I recognize the profound impact this will have on local jobs and the broader economy,” Williams continued. “This policy ensures American businesses have the opportunity to thrive, innovate, and lead.”
Trump announced that the policy protects “our Great Heavy Truck Manufacturers... from the onslaught of outside interruptions,” spotlighting companies including Peterbilt in Williams’s district, as well as, Kenworth, Freightliner, and Mack Trucks.
Ford Motor Company, which builds trucks in America, was among those in the private sector that praised Trump’s move. Ford explained that it “applauds the Trump administration’s action on medium and heavy trucks, which supports our shared goal of growing the American auto industry and U.S. manufacturing. American autoworkers deserve a level playing field.”
Ford’s CEO Jim Farley called Trump’s move “a really big deal for our country, and for Ford,” projecting a surge in truck production that could add thousands of jobs in Ohio
PACCAR, which is a parent to Peterbilt and Kenworth, signaled strong backing, as well.
A Senate source told the Reporter that “of all President Trump’s tariffs, this is one of the best on policy and political grounds. Manufacturers already make these trucks in America, so it clearly can be done. It’s time for every automaker to stop lobbying for loopholes and make their trucks in America.”