Pentagon officials are quietly sounding alarms that Trump’s proposed auto tariffs could inadvertently weaken America’s defense industrial base, according to classified briefings obtained by Reuters. The ripple effects would hit:
Military Vehicle Production
- 73% of Humvee components come from Canadian/Mexican suppliers
- Bradley Fighting Vehicle upgrades rely on German transmission imports
Critical Materials
- U.S. armor plating manufacturers need specialty Korean steel
- Night vision systems require Taiwanese semiconductors
“These tariffs would force defense contractors to either absorb massive costs or redesign entire supply chains,” warned former DoD procurement chief Ellen Lord. The potential 18-24 month disruption comes as China rapidly modernizes its military.
Irony Alert: The policy meant to “strengthen America” might actually:
- Delay F-150 Military Derivative Vehicle production by 2 years
- Increase Stryker armored vehicle costs by $400,000 per unit
- Make the U.S. more dependent on Chinese rare earth metals
