Trump officials highlight auto affordability during Midwest plant tour

On the Dash:

• Trump administration officials are touring Midwest auto plants to highlight affordability and domestic manufacturing.
• The visit comes as regulatory rollbacks advance and USMCA renegotiations approach this summer.
• Ford is pressing for changes to the trade pact to protect its North American cost structure.

Senior Trump administration officials are heading to the Midwest this week to promote vehicle affordability and domestic manufacturing amid cost pressures and slowing sales expectations in the auto industry.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will be joined by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on a two-day visit branded the “Freedom Means Affordable Cars Tour.” The group plans to tour a Ford Motor Co. facility near Cleveland and a Stellantis NV plant in Toledo before attending the Detroit Auto Show on Saturday.

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The visit comes as the White House seeks to address voter concerns about the cost of living ahead of midterm elections later this year. An AP-NORC poll conducted Jan. 8 through Jan. 11 found that 37% of U.S. adults approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of the economy.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said Trump’s tariff policies and automotive provisions under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement have helped spur investment and support domestic manufacturing. USMCA is scheduled for renegotiation this summer.

The administration’s outreach also coincides with regulatory changes at the EPA, which is finalizing a rollback of vehicle greenhouse gas standards. The agency is also moving to reverse the endangerment finding, a determination that greenhouse gases pose risks to human health and welfare.

Stellantis announced in October a $13 billion investment in U.S. operations over four years, marking the largest domestic investment commitment in the company’s history. Despite such pledges, some analysts expect U.S. auto sales to slow in 2026 as consumers remain cautious about higher prices.

While visiting a Ford plant in Michigan earlier this week, Trump said there is “no real advantage” to the current USMCA framework. That view contrasts with automakers that rely heavily on integrated North American supply chains.

Ford CEO Jim Farley emphasized the importance of revising the trade pact during an interview with Bloomberg Television. He said the industry needs changes to the agreement to protect its cost structure.

The officials’ Midwest tour underscores the administration’s effort to link trade, regulation, and affordability as the auto industry enters a pivotal year.