Since the threat of tariffs began earlier this year, it’s been a whirlwind of, “will they, won’t they.” It’s frankly exhausting to try and keep track of it all.
That’s why we created the following timeline of the tariffs, when they went into effect, what country they impact, and which imported goods are being taxed. Most of the tariffs impact the auto industry, directly or indirectly. So, buckle up, it’s bound to be a bumpy ride.
US Auto Tariffs Timeline
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February 3rd
The 25% tariff on goods from Canada (and 10% on energy products) and Mexico was paused for 30 days.
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February 4th
10% tariffs on imports from China went into effect.
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February 10th
China’s retaliatory tariffs, including tariffs on U.S. coal, liquefied natural gas, crude oil and agricultural machinery were implemented.
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March 4th
The 25% tariff on goods from Canada (and 10% on energy products) and Mexico went into effect, and the Chinese tariff doubled to 20%.
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March 4th
Canada announced 25% tariffs on products like electric vehicles, fruits and vegetables, beef, pork, dairy, electronics, steel, aluminum, trucks and buses.
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March 6th
Canadian and Mexican tariffs were adjusted to impose 25% tariffs only on goods that don’t comply with the U.S.- Mexico- Canada Agreement (USMCA). The tariff on energy products imported from Canada that fall outside the USMCA was lowered to 10%.
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March 12th
12 – The 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports went into effect.
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March 12th
Canada imposed 25% counter tariffs on goods including tools, computers and servers, display monitors, sport equipment and cast-iron products.
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April 1st
The EU tariffs of up to 25% on agricultural products, tobacco, textiles, steel and aluminum products exported to the U.S. were imposed.
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April 2nd
The pause on tariffs for products from Canada and Mexico expired except for goods covered under the USMCA. 25% tariff imposed on all goods imported into the U.S. from any country that imports Venezuelan oil, whether directly or indirectly through third parties.
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April 3rd
25% tariffs on all imported automobiles take effect. It applies to imported light-duty vehicles and trucks, but not medium- or heavy-duty trucks.
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April 4th
China began imposing export controls on rare earth minerals and suspending some farm product import qualifications for several American companies.
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April 5th
A baseline tariff of 10% across all countries, except Canada and Mexico, went into effect. Many countries have much higher tariff rates, including 34% on China, 20% on the European Union, 46% on Vietnam and 32% on Taiwan.
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April 9th
U.S. imposes 104% tariff on China after they did not lift retaliatory tariffs. Hours later, it was raised to 125%. At the same time, Trump announced a 90-day pause on the full effect of tariffs on other countries and lowered the reciprocal tariff during this period to 10%.
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April 9th
Canada began imposing a reciprocal 25% tariff on all fully fabricated vehicles imported from the U.S. that are not compliant with the USMCA.
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April 10th
China imposes 84% tariffs on all U.S goods.
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April 10th
The EU pauses its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports for 90 days.
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April 11th
China raises additional duties on U.S. goods to 125%.
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April 11th
Trump announced that electronic devices — like smartphones, computers and chips — are exempt from the reciprocal tariffs (for now).
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April 13th
China halted exports of critical rare earth metals and minerals, such as samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium. These are crucial to the manufacturing of automobiles, aerospace, semiconductors, and defense equipment globally. Most of the U.S. supply comes from China.
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April 15th
The Trump administration hiked tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S. by up to 245%.
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April 29th
Donald Trump signed a proclamation that offers temporary relief to automakers from the 25% tariffs he imposed on March 3. It gives automakers a two-year break to give them time to move production back to the United States.
The impact on the auto industry
A consequence of substantial tariffs over the long term is higher consumer costs on a wide range of goods that cross our borders by truck, including automobiles. These tariffs are paid by the U.S. importers but most of them will pass the cost onto the consumer.
These tariffs have the potential to upend North American auto trade as they continually threaten the partnership between the United States, Canada and Mexico under the USMCA. When the USMCA started in 2020, it made the creation of a robust automotive industry possible. It also strengthened U.S. manufacturing competitiveness globally. The full impact on vehicles and parts is still unknown, but will most likely be revealed in the coming months.
Mexico is the second largest country of origin for new vehicles sold in the United States and a significant production and export hub for many carmakers. And while Canada’s role in U.S. auto imports has declined, ranking as the fifth-largest country of origin, the tariffs on steel and aluminum have not.
According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, nearly a quarter of U.S. steel imports and more than half of aluminum imports are from Canada. And steel and aluminum are essential elements in vehicle manufacturing and vehicle parts. Car, tool, and machine manufacturers may feel the effect of those tariffs the most.
Why does this matter? Let’s compare vehicle manufacturing in 1985 to 2024. In 1985, American-owned facilities in the United States manufactured 11 million automobiles, representing 97% of overall domestic (American- and foreign-owned) vehicle production. In 2024, Americans bought 16 million cars, SUVs, and light trucks, and 8 million of these vehicles were imports. The other 8 million vehicles assembled in America and not imported are estimated to have an average domestic content of only 50% (likely closer to 40%), according to a White House Fact Sheet. That means only 25% of the 16 million vehicles’ content can be categorized as “Made in America.”
To bring vehicle manufacturing back stateside, the Trump administration has imposed a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles and certain vehicle parts, except for those that meet USMCA compliance standards. This is on top of the 10% universal tariff on all imported goods that started on April 5. In response, Canada began imposing a reciprocal 25% tariff on all fully fabricated vehicles imported from the U.S. that are not compliant with the USMCA on April 9. And China began imposing and increasing tariffs on the United States in retaliation.
All that is to say, prices are going to go up and have a major impact on vehicle purchases. New vehicle prices on U.S. models are expected to rise by an average of $3,000 and some Canadian and Mexican-assembled vehicles might see increases of up to $6,000. In Canada, costs could go even higher, with specific models spiking by as much as $25,000 (CDN).
Aside from rising purchase prices, the tariffs may disrupt supply chains as manufacturers look for alternative suppliers, potentially causing production delays and limited availability. Economic uncertainty like this could also reduce consumer demand, leading automakers to scale back or relocate production, stop exporting to certain countries, delay hiring and even conduct mass layoffs.
How your business can respond
- Make informed decisions
- Tariff mitigation strategies now require alignment between supply chain structure and financial planning.
The bottom line
No matter where the tariffs take us, Reindeer Logistics has your back. It is our goal to work with you – and the changing automotive landscape – to make your auto-shipping experience as easy and painless as possible. That is, and always has been, our commitment to you.
Our team of highly trained and experienced car shipping experts will guide you through the process from beginning to end. And we will stay on top of the ever-evolving auto logistics industry, so you don’t have to. Contact us today to get started!