Foreign Policy

Commerce Dept. Investigating If Auto Imports Hurt US National Security

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said "there's evidence suggesting" that foreign imports of automobiles have hurt the U.S. auto industry.

Commerce Dept. Investigating If Auto Imports Hurt US National Security
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The U.S. Department of Commerce is launching an investigation into whether automobile imports are hurting U.S. national security. 

The Wall Street Journal reports President Donald Trump is asking for tariffs of as much as 25 percent on automobile imports. 

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement "there's evidence suggesting" that foreign imports of automobiles have hurt the U.S. auto industry. The type of investigation is reportedly the same method the Trump administration used before it imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports earlier this year.

The Commerce Department will reportedly look at cars, SUVs, vans, light trucks and auto parts. 

The American International Automobile Dealers Association said in a statement that tariffs would increase prices of vehicles for U.S. families. The association also said tariffs would affect the nearly 600,000 American employees who "rely on competitively priced products to sustain their businesses and jobs."

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.