Some tariff measures imposed by US President Donald Trump are taking effect, and people in the country are already feeling the impact.
The measures include an extra 25 percent tariff on steel, aluminum and cars, as well as additional tariffs of 145 percent on most imports from China.
US businesses and consumers will shoulder most of the higher costs caused by the tariffs.
A US subsidiary of a Japanese distribution company takes care of customs clearance for auto parts and other products sent by air from Asia.
Employees are busy checking the latest tariff percentages on each product.
Mori Takahiro of the US subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Express says that the time required for customs clearance has more than doubled in some cases.
He says the rules are complicated on how levies are applied to various items from specific countries.
Mori says there are exceptions such as tariffs not being imposed on some items that were exported before a certain date. He says there are many different kinds of duties applied to products, which is causing confusion.
One estimate shows the average tariff on imports to the US has jumped from 2.4 percent before President Trump took office to about 28 percent.
US businesses that use imported materials and products are having a tough time.
An auto parts manufacturer in the state of Michigan uses steel imported from Taiwan.
An additional tariff of 25 percent is added to the cost of imports from Taiwan. The company is negotiating with the exporter on how they should split the burden.
The company's president says "I think what a lot of people in the US understand is that they are going to pay I know that here the day is us. We cannot, in the long term, endure, it'll cause our company, and many companies our size, probably go out of existence, to be frank with you."
The president says it's highly likely that levies will soon be imposed on some parts his firm imports from abroad.
He says he has considered procuring the parts domestically, but they would cost more because of higher labor costs in the US.
The measures include an extra 25 percent tariff on steel, aluminum and cars, as well as additional tariffs of 145 percent on most imports from China.
US businesses and consumers will shoulder most of the higher costs caused by the tariffs.
A US subsidiary of a Japanese distribution company takes care of customs clearance for auto parts and other products sent by air from Asia.
Employees are busy checking the latest tariff percentages on each product.
Mori Takahiro of the US subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Express says that the time required for customs clearance has more than doubled in some cases.
He says the rules are complicated on how levies are applied to various items from specific countries.
Mori says there are exceptions such as tariffs not being imposed on some items that were exported before a certain date. He says there are many different kinds of duties applied to products, which is causing confusion.
One estimate shows the average tariff on imports to the US has jumped from 2.4 percent before President Trump took office to about 28 percent.
US businesses that use imported materials and products are having a tough time.
An auto parts manufacturer in the state of Michigan uses steel imported from Taiwan.
An additional tariff of 25 percent is added to the cost of imports from Taiwan. The company is negotiating with the exporter on how they should split the burden.
The company's president says "I think what a lot of people in the US understand is that they are going to pay I know that here the day is us. We cannot, in the long term, endure, it'll cause our company, and many companies our size, probably go out of existence, to be frank with you."
The president says it's highly likely that levies will soon be imposed on some parts his firm imports from abroad.
He says he has considered procuring the parts domestically, but they would cost more because of higher labor costs in the US.
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Summary
US tariffs on steel, aluminum, cars, and Chinese imports have increased to 25% and 145%, respectively. This is causing higher costs for American businesses and consumers. The complexity of the rules regarding which items from specific countries are subject to tariffs has resulted in confusion.
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ID: dfa28505-f5ff-40ff-b68c-5318cedbf39d
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250418_28/
Date: April 18, 2025
Created: 2025/04/20 07:00
Updated: 2025/12/08 04:45
Last Read: 2025/04/20 17:22