This analysis discusses Milena Gabanelli's Corriere della sera article on the impact of U.S. import tariffs under President Trump on the global automotive industry. The text explains how tariffs on imported vehicles and components significantly increase costs for both American and international consumers due to the intricate, multi-national nature of auto manufacturing supply chains, using the Ford F-150 as a key example. It highlights the complex interdependence of the industry, where parts and even finished vehicles travel across borders multiple times before reaching the final market, leading to cumulative tariffs. The analysis also covers retaliatory tariffs from other nations, the economic consequences for automakers and their suppliers, the challenges in increasing U.S. domestic content to meet tariff exemptions, and the resulting paralysis and uncertainty within the industry, potentially benefiting competitors like China.
