U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to put 15 per cent tariffs on Japan comes “at the expense of the very companies and workers that built the American auto industry,” said the United Auto Workers. (The Logic)

Talking point: The Japan deal undercuts the 25 per cent tariff rates on vehicle imports from most other countries and is competitive with Canadian and Mexican-made vehicles, which face 25 per cent tariffs on any auto parts not made in the U.S. That often works out to a tariff rate of roughly 12 to 12.5 per cent. A Nissan from Japan, for instance, could face similar tariffs as a Canadian-made Chevy with U.S. parts, and lower tariffs than a Chevy made in South Korea. Matt Blunt, who leads the American Automotive Policy Council group that represents Ford, Stellantis and GM in Washington, told Reuters that it’s a “bad” trade deal since Japan-made vehicles have “virtually no U.S. content” compared with North American-built vehicles.