US President Donald Trump has announced that a 25 per cent tariff will be imposed on all imported heavy-duty trucks starting 1 October 2025.
According to Reuters, the proposed tariff is expected to significantly impact global supply chains and international shipping routes, particularly for major exporters such as Germany, Japan, Canada and Mexico.
For logistics providers and freight forwarders, the duty represents an added layer of complexity in transpacific and cross-border truck movements, potentially leading to cost surges, delays in delivery schedules, and re-evaluation of import strategies.
Shipping firms that rely on consistent flows of commercial vehicles into US ports may need to adjust their pricing structures or sourcing models to account for the elevated cost of entry.
The new tariff on trucks is part of a wider package that includes a 100 per cent duty on branded pharmaceuticals produced abroad without US-based manufacturing facilities, as well as increased tariffs on items such as kitchen cabinets, vanities and upholstered furniture.
Industry observers suggest the move could trigger retaliatory actions from trade partners, while also forcing multinational suppliers to consider shifting assembly closer to US shores.
For maritime and overland carriers, the announcement raises fresh questions about the resilience and adaptability of shipping networks amid rising political and economic nationalism.
Media reports that Trump framed the tariff announcement as part of a broader effort to “bring jobs back to America” and penalise companies that, in his words, “rip off” the country by relying on foreign production.
Last month, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending the tariff truce with China by 90 days, delaying steep import duties that could have severely impacted bilateral trade flows and global supply chains.
