Corey R. Lewandowski, a former senior advisor to Donald J. Trump, has defended the president’s 25% tariff on imported automobiles from Europe, arguing it’s a necessary step to protect American interests and reshape what he describes as a “rigged system.”
In an opinion piece with the Daily Caller, Lewandowski dismissed concerns about potential price increases for consumers, arguing that the tariffs are about long-term leverage and fairness. He pointed to the trade imbalance between the U.S. and the European Union, citing the significant difference in tariffs imposed on American cars entering Europe versus European cars entering the U.S.
“In 2024, the European Union sold $43.9 billion worth of cars to America, while U.S. auto sales to Europe totaled less than $9 billion,” Lewandowski stated, highlighting the existing disparity. He also accused European automakers of “quietly stripping away basic safety features Americans rely on,” specifically mentioning the removal of AM radios from vehicles.
Lewandowski connected the tariff to the Trump administration’s push for the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act,” arguing that both are part of a broader message to European manufacturers: “You don’t get to sell your products here while undermining America’s economic interests or public safety. If you want access to our market, you’ll get it on our terms.”
He addressed the potential for short-term price increases, framing them as a necessary “price of ending a one-sided deal.” Lewandowski predicted that the tariffs would ultimately lead to increased domestic auto production, creating American jobs and lowering prices through fair competition.
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Lewandowski drew parallels between Trump’s actions and those of President Ronald Reagan, who in 1981 threatened tariffs on Japanese auto imports, leading to increased Japanese investment in U.S. manufacturing. He argued that a similar “renaissance of U.S. auto manufacturing” could occur with European automakers.
He also addressed the foreign automakers reaction to the proposed tariff, stating that “The immediate response from foreign carmakers like Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen’s Audi division has been full-on panic. They’ve even resorted to letting their cars pile up at U.S. ports instead of delivering them to dealers.”
Lewandowski characterizes European complaints as hypocritical, arguing that they ignored the negative impacts of existing trade imbalances and safety feature removals. “They didn’t care when American manufacturers were losing market share, or when safety features like AM radio were quietly yanked out of our cars,” he wrote.
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