Related: Trump Auto Tariffs 'Premature,' Commerce Secretary Says
Tariffs on Hold as Trump Weighs National Security Impact
President Donald Trump is "not ready to act" on threatened auto import tariffs following a Tuesday meeting with his top trade advisers, an anonymous source told Bloomberg.

President Trump has delayed implementation of his planned trade tariffs.
Photo via Gage Skidmore/Flickr.
President Donald Trump is "not ready to act" on threatened auto import tariffs following a Tuesday meeting with his top trade advisers, an anonymous source told Bloomberg. At issue is a Commerce Department report on the national security implications of new trade restrictions. A final report is due from Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in February.
If the report deems auto imports to be a national security threat, the president will have 90 days to decide whether to act and another 15 days to execute any prescribed measures, which could include tariffs as well as quotas.
Trump has threatened new tariffs as high as 25% on foreign-made cars. The NADA has estimated prices could rise by as much as $2,270 on affected U.S.-built cars and trucks and $6,875 on imported vehicles. Business and government leaders have repeatedly warned the administration such a move would disrupt the global automotive industry and the growth and stability of the U.S. economy.
News of a delay was greeted by stock-market gains for Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota. Vehicles built in Canada and Mexico are exempt from new tariffs — subject to caps — thanks to deals negotiated under the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Manufacturers in nations belonging to the European Union are believed to be exempt for as long as talks continue on a new trade pact.
"We are under the assumption that is still valid," EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom told Bloomberg, referring to a mutually agreed-upon halt on new tariffs from either side.
More Vehicle Research

EV Realty Names Henrik Holland President as Charging Platform Expands
The former Prologis Mobility and Shell executive will help expand EV Realty’s truck charging business and move its power-first infrastructure model into autonomous vehicle depots and other fleet sectors.
Read More →
Mercedes-Benz Introduces Electric GLC With Up to 350 Miles of Range
The GLC 400 4MATIC Electric features an 800-volt architecture, 330-kW DC fast charging and a 94-kWh battery, along with Mercedes-Benz's new MB.OS operating system.
Read More →
Fleet Has a Talent Pipeline Problem, not a Talent Problem
Where will the next generation of fleet leaders come from, and what does the industry need to do differently to find them?
Read More →
Fleet Hacks: What Are You Still Doing Manually?
From daily recaps to repeatable workflows, fleet professionals share how AI can cut through busywork while keeping human judgment at the center.
Read More →
How One Fleet Manager Put a New Spin on Safety Training
Joe Lewis turned a pre-trip inspection lesson into an AI-assisted song, then four safety albums. The experiment also revealed why human oversight matters when AI enters driver training.
Read More →
2027 Ram ProMaster City Starts Under $40K
Ram is returning to the smaller commercial van market with a new ProMaster City aimed at delivery, service, trade, and passenger applications. Starting at $39,995 with destination, the 2027 van offers up to 2,000 pounds of towing capacity, more than 2,000 pounds of payload, and multiple cargo and passenger configurations.
Read More →
New Tariff Threats & a Leadership Change at Wheels | AF News Recap
A new tariff threat is creating more uncertainty for fleet ordering, Wheels has named a new president, and we’re asking whether certification is really worth the investment.
Read More →
Certification: What’s in It for the Fleet Manager?
From smarter fleet decisions to stronger career credibility, certification can give fleet managers knowledge they may never gain inside a single operation.
Read More →
Wheels Names Matthew Cole President
Cole brings more than 30 years of automotive and technology experience to the fleet management company, including leadership roles at Aptiv, Visteon and Johnson Controls.
Read More →
AI is changing what fleet managers can build & 849,000 vehicles recalled | AF News Recap
Fleet managers are learning how to build their own AI-powered tools, Stellantis is recalling nearly 849,000 vehicles, and this year’s Fleet Manager of the Year finalists have been revealed. Additionally, we’re examining how to identify repairs that warrant a second look. Here’s what you need to know this week.
Read More →