On October 1, the US Department of the Treasury announced actions targeting Iran’s Automotive, Rail, Manufacturing, and Steel Networks, as part of Operation Economic Outcast. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued sanctions (Executive Order (E.O.) 13902) targeting Iran’s automotive and rail sectors. 
Seve

Mexico’s government is increasingly confident regarding a potential trade deal with the U.S. that would include reduced tariffs on exports including steel, aluminum and light vehicles, according to multiple Mexican officials familiar with the situation.
The two countries are currently working on details of an agreeme

On September 28 while announcing its finalized, dramatically-lowered, vehicle fuel economy rules, the U.S. Department of Transportation noted how much money will be saved by automotive OEMs as a result.
The Trump administration estimates automakers' technology costs will decline by USD 60.6 billion through 2031, or a

On September 28, the U.S. Transportation Department issued its finalized, sharply lower vehicle fuel economy standards through 2031, reversing efforts of the previous Biden administration to entice ⁠automakers to build more ⁠fuel-efficient vehicles.
Under former President Biden, the government sought to push OEMs to

On September 25, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) ruled that Chinese imports of van-type trailers and subassemblies cause material injury to a U.S. industry, clearing the way for the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose antidumping and countervailing duties.
The Commerce Department had previously foun

U.S. senators proposing bipartisan legislation to make permanent a ban on Chinese vehicles are for a quick vote this week in the Senate approval this week, according to one of the bill’s authors on September 23. The action comes at the same time as President Donald Trump meets with China’s President Xi Jinping.
The l

GM CEO Mary ‌Barra is expected to attend President Trump's state dinner at the White House on September 24 for Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to two sources familiar ‌with the matter, as US automakers warn against allowing Chinese manufacturers ⁠into the market, while Trump signals he may be open to it.
Barr

On September 22, six Democratic senators pressed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to get tariff refunds to consumers after the Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s IEEPA emergency tariffs Customs and Border Protection opened its CAPE portal for companies seeking refunds.
CBP collected roughly USD 166 billion und

Japan and the U.S. are in talks to build a semiconductor plant in the U.S. as part of Japan's USD 550 billion tariff-deal investment pledge between the two countries, according to officials of both governments familiar with the negotiations.
The project is expected to be worth JPY 2 trillion to JPY 3 ‌trillion ⁠yen (

On September 18, the mayor of Brampton, Ontario, Patrick Brown said that while Canadian defense manufacturer Roshel is the leading suitor to buy Stellantis idled Brampton Assembly Plant, Chinese automakers have also inquired about car factory.
Brown warned that inviting in Chinese companies could devastate the Detroi

The U.S. and Chinese governments are finalizing a list of Chinese business leaders to join President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Washington on September24, three sources familiar with the matter said, including companies facing ‌U.S. regulatory scrutiny.
Final invitations are to go out to companies in the coming d

On September 18, leaders of six major auto trade groups sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to maintain policies that “keep the door firmly shut” for Chinese OEMs to operate in the U.S.
The letter was signed by leaders of six trade associations representing major facets of the U.S. automotive industry, from

On September 16, U.S. President Trump said that if Canada joins the European Union as a proposed associate member intended as a “hostile act” against the U.S., he may impose tariffs on Europe or halt trade with the bloc.
Trump was asked about European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal for Canada to

At this year’s Mexico Nearshoring and Logistics Auto Industry Summit 2026 in Mexico City, where GlobalData participated in the “Automotive Market Forecasts and Industry Trends” panel alongside other leading voices in the market, one theme underpinned nearly every question: whether Mexico can convert its expanding rol

On September 16, President Trump directed U.S. agencies to remove Canadian goods from government contracts, executing an earlier threat as tensions increase between the two countries. In a presidential memorandum, Trump criticized Canada for its barriers to U.S. companies seeking access to the Canadian government mar

Stellantis has begun asking suppliers to assess the business case for moving heavy-duty Ram pickup production from Mexico to Michigan as the company works to avoid tariffs in the face of ever-changing tariffs and USMCA negotiations.
The proposed goal is to move production of heavy-duty Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups to th

On September 11, President Trump said he would allow Chinese OEMs to build cars in the U.S. despite widespread opposition from U.S. lawmakers and car companies.
"If China wanted to come in and open a plant to build their cars here, I'd be okay with that," Trump said in an interview on the Fox News program "The Ingrah

Mexico and the United States are working to reach a bilateral trade deal before U.S. midterm elections less than eight weeks away, according to sources in both countries familiar with the talks.
"We both want to reach a deal before the midterms," said one Mexico-based source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. For

On September 8, Ford addressed the matter of a letter from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy received a few days earlier highlighting concerns about its partnerships with Chinese companies.
In the letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley, Duffy questioned Ford’s partnership with CATL at its plant in Marshall, Michigan, w

On September 8, 2026, Canadian tariffs on approximately USD 20 billion worth of U.S. goods took effect, highlighting the recent escalation in the trade conflict between the U.S. and Canada.
The tariffs will range from 15% to 50% and will be applied across a range of more than 700 U.S. goods. Products including steel,