Trump sets 25% tariffs on imported medium, heavy trucks

October 07, 2025 (MLN): U.S. President Donald Trump stated that all medium and heavy duty trucks imported into the United States will face a 25% tariff starting November 1, intensifying efforts to protect American truck manufacturers from foreign competition.

Last month, Trump indicated that heavy truck imports would face new duties from October 1, citing national security concerns.

The president said the tariffs aim to shield U.S. manufacturers from “unfair outside competition” and benefit domestic companies such as Peterbilt and Kenworth, owned by Paccar, as well as Freightliner, owned by Daimler Truck.

Under existing trade agreements with Japan and the European Union, the U.S. applies 15% tariffs on light-duty vehicles, though it remains unclear whether the same rate will apply to larger trucks.

The administration also allows producers to deduct the value of U.S.-made components from tariffs on light-duty vehicles assembled in Canada and Mexico.

Medium and heavy duty trucks include delivery vehicles, garbage trucks, public utility trucks, transit buses, shuttles, school buses, semitrucks, and other vocational trucks.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce had previously urged the Commerce Department not to impose additional truck tariffs, noting that the top five import sources Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Finland are U.S. allies or close partners with no threat to national security.

Mexico remains the largest exporter of medium and heavy duty trucks to the U.S., with imports tripling since 2019 to approximately 340,000 units, according to government data released earlier this year.

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