UAW backs Trump’s tariffs to protect US auto industry, calls them a step to end ‘free trade disaster’

The UAW, which represents over a million workers, praised the tariffs, arguing they are needed to counteract policies that have hurt American labor. “Tariffs are a powerful tool in the toolbox for undoing the injustice of anti-worker trade deals,” the union said in a statement. “We are glad to see an American president take aggressive action on ending the free trade disaster that has dropped like a bomb on the working class.”

Historically aligned with Democrats—the union endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024—the UAW is now signaling its willingness to work with the Trump administration to negotiate auto tariffs in a way that benefits its members.

By embracing Trump’s America-first approach, the UAW hopes the tariffs will push automakers to bring jobs and factories back to the US, per the New York Post. For years, American car manufacturers have relied on plants in Mexico and Canada to keep costs down. These savings, however, could be wiped out under the new tariffs.

Last year, the US imported $87 billion worth of cars and another $64 billion in parts from Mexico, according to the US Commerce Department. The Census Bureau reported that nearly $57 billion in cars and parts were imported from Canada.

Trump’s tariffs are expected to drive up vehicle prices, along with other goods. Despite the expected price hikes, the UAW insists that blame should be placed on corporations, not Trump. “There’s been a lot of talk of these tariffs ‘disrupting’ the economy. But if corporate America chooses to price-gouge the American consumer or attack the American worker because they don’t want to pay their fair share, corporate America bears the blame for that decision,” the union said.

Economists have warned that the American auto industry could the biggest casualties of the trade war, with Kelley Blue Book estimating that the average new car price could rise by $3,000.