President Donald J. Trump posted on social media Thursday the U.S. would be imposing a 25% tariff on heavy-duty trucks made internationally, starting Oct. 1.
“In order to protect our Great Heavy Truck Manufacturers from unfair outside competition, I will be imposing, as of October 1st, 2025, a 25% Tariff on all 'Heavy (Big!) Trucks' made in other parts of the World,” the president said on Truth Social. “Therefore, our Great Large Truck Company Manufacturers, such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Mack Trucks, and others, will be protected from the onslaught of outside interruptions. We need our Truckers to be financially healthy and strong, for many reasons, but above all else, for National Security purposes!”
He also announced on Truth Social a 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and associated products and a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture.
How much these proposed tariffs will actually impact medium- and heavy-duty truck prices remained unclear on Thursday. The President did not clarify if the tariffs will apply to all trucks or just models that do not meet USMCA exemption levels. Until Thursday, companies supplying their Mexico operations with components from the United States or Canada have been exempted from import tariffs.
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Paccar brands Kenworth and Peterbilt produce their trucks in Ohio and Texas, respectively, but other Class 8 OEMs Daimler Truck North America and International have assembly plants in Mexico as well as the United States. Volvo Group also announced plans last year to open a production facility in Mexico in 2026, though its brands' three newest models, the heavily redesigned regional haul Volvo VNR and updated Mack Anthem and Mack Pioneer will be produced in Virginia and Maryland.
Outside of the Class 8 sector, Ram could be hardest hit by the announcement. Ram commercial trucks and vans are produced in Mexico, and 95% of commercial trucks of all sizes produced in Mexico are exported to the United States.
