トランプ政権せいけん 自動車じどうしゃ部品ぶひんにも25％の関税かんぜい発動はつどう 日本にっぽんへの影響えいきょう懸念けねん

The Trump administration in the United States, shortly after 1 p.m. Japan time on the 3rd, implemented a measure to impose an additional 25% tariff on imported engines and other major automobile parts.

The export value of automobile parts from Japan to the United States is the second largest by item after automobiles, and there are concerns about the impact that additional tariffs may have on the management of Japanese parts manufacturers.

The Trump administration in the United States has imposed an additional 25% tariff on all automobiles imported from April 3rd.

And just after midnight on May 3rd Eastern Time in the United States, and just after 1 p.m. Japan Time, measures were also implemented to impose an additional 25% tariff on major automobile parts such as imported engines and transmissions.

They cite the possibility that imports of automobiles and certain auto parts could threaten U.S. national security based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act.

However, since American automobile manufacturers also import parts from abroad and there were concerns that this would lead to increased manufacturing costs, the Trump administration decided to take measures to reduce the burden.

The reduced amount in the first year is one-third of the manufacturers suggested retail price of the sold automobile.

Its 75%.

Only automobiles produced within the United States are eligible.

The value of automobile parts exported from Japan to the United States in 2024 was 1.231 trillion yen according to Ministry of Finance statistics, accounting for 5% of total exports to the U.S.

It accounts for 8%, making it the second largest category after automobiles.

There are concerns that the additional tariffs may increase the burden on Japanese parts manufacturers and affect their management.

Japanese auto parts manufacturers are being forced to take tough measures. On April 29, the Trump administration announced a measure to ease the burden of tariffs imposed on imported auto parts for a limited period of two years, stating that this is to give automakers time to restructure their supply chains.

The aim is to shift production to within the United States, but for parts manufacturers, even if they have factories in the U.S., there are many challenges such as rising labor costs and sourcing raw materials, making it difficult to immediately increase local production.

Of these, Nippon Piston Ring Nipatsu, a major parts manufacturer based in Yokohama, will transfer part of its parts production from Japan to the United States, but due to the significant rise in local labor costs, a large-scale transfer is not possible.

Furthermore, there have been a series of voices from parts manufacturers expressing a desire to assess the impact of the series of tariff policies introduced by the Trump administration. At last month’s financial results briefing, Koichi Ito, President of Toyota Industries Corporation, a Toyota group company, stated, “If such policies continue, we would like to consider various options while assessing the impact, such as negotiating to pass on the burden of tariffs to prices.”

DENSO President Shinnosuke Hayashi also said, It could have a major impact on the automotive industry, and we will need to adapt to these changes.

Its a situation where its hard to predict what will happen, but I want to always stay alert, keep track of whats happening in the world, and carefully assess how it might affect us, he said.

Many parts manufacturers say they will consider their response while assessing the production systems of automakers, but it seems they will be forced to make difficult decisions on how to ease the burden of additional tariffs, such as through cost reductions or passing on the costs to prices.