The Detroit News
Mar. 31, 2026
Breana Noble, Candice Williams, and Grant Schwab
President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” celebration on April 2 last year, during which he imposed tariffs on imports from dozens of nations, called for a level playing field in global trade and promised to strengthen U.S. manufacturing.
Notable developments have followed over the last year, including several trade deals and billions of dollars in automotive announcements. But there has also been economic fallout as both U.S. and Michigan manufacturing jobs are down, some businesses say uncertain conditions are holding up investments and critics charge the Trump administration’s tariff policies with damaging the United States’ influence and reputation.
“Input costs have increased dramatically for all companies. Period,” said Glenn Stevens Jr., Executive Director of MichAuto, the automotive arm of the Detroit Regional Chamber. “They really have done three things: They have mitigated. They have managed through this. They have reshaped their supply chains. For the most part, the industry across all levels have absorbed most of it. Not all of it. But most of it. They can’t afford to have it show up in the showroom.”