President Trump on Friday signed a proclamation that will impose a new 25 percent tariff on imported trucks, including big pickups and long-haul semis, extending duties that already apply to smaller vehicles.
The president also announced a 10 percent tariff on imported buses. Once these duties go into effect on Nov. 1, virtually all categories of vehicles not made in the United States will be subject to higher tariffs than when Mr. Trump took office.
The latest tariffs apply to every category of truck. Many of these vehicles were already being made in the United States, but some come from countries like Mexico, including some large pickups made by Ram, a unit of Stellantis. Parts for these trucks will also face higher tariffs, as car parts already do, though some exemptions will apply.
Some automakers, including Ford Motor, welcomed the president’s pronouncement, which they said would make the trade in large vehicles fairer. Under the previous tariffs, it could still be cheaper to manufacture a truck in Mexico than in Kentucky or Ohio.
Large pickups, often marketed as “super duty” trucks, are among the most profitable vehicles that Ford, General Motors and Stellantis make. Any changes in trade policy affecting those vehicles can have an outsize impact on those automakers’ profits, which have already suffered from tariffs on imported parts and on steel and aluminum. Those tariffs have also disrupted long-established supply chains.
Companies that already make most of their vehicles in the United States are likely to benefit from the new tariffs, while companies, like Stellantis, that produce many trucks in Mexico or elsewhere could suffer. Stellantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Paccar, the maker of Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks, said in a statement before the announcement on Friday that it hoped the tariff would “will negate the current disadvantage that those of us who proudly manufacture trucks in the U.S. currently face.”
The administration also extended a partial tariff exemption for imported parts, in an acknowledgment that it is very difficult to manufacture vehicles without some components from abroad.
The exemption, which was originally announced in April, will apply for five years rather than two, or well after Mr. Trump’s term has ended. It allows manufacturers to avoid tariffs on imported parts worth up to 15 percent of a vehicle’s value. A similar program will be created for trucks.
White House officials insisted that the latest trade policy moves would not affect consumers, who are facing record high car prices. A senior White House official told reporters in a briefing on Friday that the administration did not expect to see price increases as a result of the tariffs.
Rather, the tariffs will create a level playing field and encourage companies to create jobs in the United States, the official said.
The latest tariffs will not apply to countries that have already negotiated trade agreements with the United States — for example, Japan and South Korea. Vehicles from those countries are subject to 15 percent tariffs.
There is also a partial exemption for vehicles made in Mexico or Canada. Automakers do not need to pay tariffs on engines and other components that are made in the United States and then installed in vehicles assembled in and imported from those countries.
Peter Eavis contributed reporting.
Jack Ewing covers the auto industry for The Times, with an emphasis on electric vehicles.
Ana Swanson covers trade and international economics for The Times and is based in Washington. She has been a journalist for more than a decade.
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