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Tariffs will only apply to light-duty vehicles, exempting medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks. Nevertheless, the new 10% "reciprocal" tariff could affect the freight transportation industry.
President Donald Trump’s newly announced reciprocal tariffs on April 2 have raised concerns about the economy and the freight recovery. These tariffs, higher than expected, could impact the logistics sector and the U.S. supply chain.
The president confirmed that his administration will impose 25% tariffs on automobile imports from other countries, including Canada and Mexico, starting Thursday, April 3, at 12:01 a.m. However, these tariffs will only apply to light-duty vehicles, exempting medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks. Nevertheless, the new 10% “reciprocal” tariff could affect the freight transportation industry.
As manufacturers and retailers pass at least some of these tariff costs onto consumers, there could be a reduction in product purchases and, consequently, a lower demand for freight transport.
Their Impact on Freight Transport
Trump announced a baseline 10% tariff for all countries, with higher rates for those he deemed “bad trade partners.” This measure will take effect on April 5 at 12:01 a.m. ET. However, Canada and Mexico will be exempt from this 10% baseline tariff.
Despite this exemption, Canada and Mexico remain subject to a 25% tariff announced earlier this year, which was paused twice. Only goods covered under the USMCA agreement are exempt from this duty. Additionally, a new tariff on steel and aluminum imports took effect on March 12.
In recent months, the freight transportation sector has experienced a surge in activity as many U.S. companies rushed to import goods before the tariffs took effect. This trend has been particularly evident in cargo movements from the Texas-Mexico border to major U.S. retail distribution centers.
Delayed shipments
According to CNBC, this import acceleration has coincided with a significant drop in new freight order activity.
Hamish Woodrow, head of strategic analytics at Motive, stated that they expect “to see a decline as early as the next two weeks.”
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) Truck Tonnage Index increased by 3% in February, but CNBC reported that “future freight scheduled for truck delivery or pickup shows widespread hesitation among U.S. importers.”
Over the weekend leading up to the tariff announcement, Uber Freight recorded an unusual volume of trucks traveling northbound from Mexico into the U.S., particularly along the IH35 corridor.
Jose Guerrero, director of U.S. Customs Operations, explained that some importers delayed shipments until the news was confirmed, while others rushed to move goods ahead of potential disruptions.
Industry Response to Tariffs
Chris Spear, president of the American Trucking Associations, noted in an email to members that the exclusion of additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico provides relief for cross-border trade. “Goods from Canada and Mexico that are not USMCA compliant already face a 25% tariff due to ‘lax border security.’ USMCA-compliant goods will continue with a 0% tariff, while non-USMCA-compliant goods will face a 25% tariff, and products like energy and potash will be subject to a 10% tariff,” Spear explained.
“Despite these exemptions, today’s announced tariffs could depress freight volumes and increase equipment costs for our industry. We continue to express these concerns directly to administration officials and will assess the impact on motor carriers and supplier partners,” Spear added.
More anxiety and uncertainty
The National Association of Manufacturers stated that it is analyzing the details of the new tariffs but warned that “the high costs of new tariffs threaten investment, jobs, supply chains, and the U.S.’s ability to compete globally.”
Mazen Danaf, senior economist at Uber Freight, explained that “tariffs add cost pressures to an already fragile manufacturing sector. Supply chain executives fear that higher trade barriers will lead to reduced production, job cuts, and rising inflation.” Recent Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data confirms a slowdown, with declines in manufacturing output and new orders.
The National Retail Federation issued a statement saying that “more tariffs mean more anxiety and uncertainty for American businesses and consumers. While leaders in Washington may overlook higher prices, hardworking American families cannot.”
Tariffs, which are typically implemented by the U.S. Congress, have been imposed by the Trump administration through “national emergency” declarations. The tariffs on Canada and Mexico announced earlier this year were justified by a fentanyl emergency, while the latest tariffs are based on “persistent trade deficits” as a reason for presidential action.
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