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'I think everybody's concerned': Mercedes-Benz plant eyeing impacts of imported vehicle tariffs

'I think everybody's concerned': Mercedes-Benz plant eyeing impacts of imported vehicle tariffs
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      NEWS. MEANWHILE, NEW 25% TARIFFS ON IMPORTED VEHICLES ARE SCHEDULED TO START THURSDAY. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE, QUOTE, COULDN’T CARE LESS IF HIS TARIFFS INCREASE CAR PRICES SO LONG AS MORE MANUFACTURING COMES HERE TO THE U.S. OUR STATE IS HOME TO SEVERAL LARGE AUTO ASSEMBLY PLANTS HONDA, HYUNDAI, TOYOTA, MAZDA AND MERCEDES-BENZ. WVTM 13 MYA KYIV MYA CALEB. RATHER JOINS US LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE MERCEDES BENZ PLANT IN TUSCALOOSA. MYA. HOW IS MERCEDES HANDLING THESE TARIFFS? WELL, CARLA THE MERCEDES PLANT IN TUSCALOOSA IS A BIG DEAL TO THE ECONOMY IN OUR STATE. THE ASSEMBLY PLANT HERE IN TUSCALOOSA COUNTY IS MORE THAN SIX POINT 6,000,000FT, WITH OVER 6000 EMPLOYEES WORKING HERE AND THOUSANDS MORE ACROSS THE U.S. THERE’S ANOTHER 3,000,000FT PLANT IN BIBB COUNTY. IN TOTAL, IT HAS BEEN A $7 BILLION INVESTMENT INTO ALABAMA. IN A STATEMENT, A MERCEDES-BENZ SPOKESPERSON TOLD WVTM 13 THEY ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE IMPACT OF TARIFFS AS THE COMPANY RELIES ON TRADE ACROSS INTERNATIONAL MARKETS. SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE IS HOPING ONCE PEOPLE HEAR THE PRESIDENT’S PLAN, THEY’LL UNDERSTAND THE DECISION. I THINK I THINK EVERYBODY’S CONCERNED. OBVIOUSLY, MY CONSTITUENTS IN ALABAMA ARE. WE HAVE A LOT OF CAR MANUFACTURING IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE IF THEY’RE MADE HERE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY THE TARIFF. OBVIOUSLY, THERE’S PARTS GOING IN AND OUT THAT WILL BE TARIFF. BUT I THINK WEDNESDAY PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL. COMMUNICATE HOPEFULLY FROM A BIG PRESS CONFERENCE AND GIVE A SPEECH ABOUT WHAT HE’S DOING AND WHY HE’S DOING IT AND WHAT DIRECTION WE’RE GOING TO GO. I THINK IT WILL CALM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DOWN. IT WILL CALM THE ECONOMY DOWN A LITTLE BIT. WE’VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO OTHER AUTO MANUFACTURING PLANTS IN OUR STATE ABOUT THE TARIFFS. ONCE WE HEAR BACK FROM THEM, WE’LL UPDATE YOU HERE ON WVTM 13 AND ON THE
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      'I think everybody's concerned': Mercedes-Benz plant eyeing impacts of imported vehicle tariffs
      New 25% tariffs on imported vehicles are scheduled to start on Thursday that could impact our state. Trump has long said that tariffs against auto imports would be a defining policy of his presidency, betting that the costs created by the taxes would cause more production to relocate to the United States.But U.S. and foreign automakers with domestic plants still depend on Canada, Mexico and other nations for parts and finished vehicles, meaning that auto prices could increase and sales could decline as new factories take time to build.>> What is a tariff and who pays it?Alabama is home to several auto assembly plants such as Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz.The Mercedes-Benz plant, located in Tuscaloosa County, is a big deal to the Alabama economy. More than 6,000 employees work at the 6 million square-foot plant in Vance. There's also a 3 million square-foot plant in Bibb County.Mercedes-Benz told WVTM 13 in a statement that they are eyeing the impact of the tariffs, as the company relies on trade across international markets. They also said that they support free and fair trade that underpins prosperity, growth and innovation.Watch below to see the possible political consequences of President Trump's new tariffs this week.Sen. Tommy Tuberville is hoping people will understand the decision behind the tariffs once they hear Trump plan."I think everybody's concerned obviously my constituents in Alabama we have a lot of car manufacturing in the country, which is good because if they're made here, you don't have to pay the tariff. Obviously, there's parts going in and out that will be tariffed, but I think Wednesday, President Trump will communicate hopefully, from a big press conference and give a speech about what he's doing and why he's doing it, what direction we're gonna go. I think it will calm the American people down. It will calm the economy down a little bit," said Tuberville. Slightly more than one million people are employed domestically in the manufacturing of motor vehicles and parts, about 320,000 fewer than in 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another 2.1 million people work at auto and parts dealerships.The United States last year imported nearly 8 million cars and light trucks worth $244 billion. Mexico, Japan and South Korea were the top sources of foreign vehicles. Imports of auto parts came to more than $197 billion, led by Mexico, Canada and China, according to the Commerce Department.This article contains information from The Associated Press.

      New 25% tariffs on imported vehicles are scheduled to start on Thursday that could impact our state.

      Trump has long said that tariffs against auto imports would be a defining policy of his presidency, betting that the costs created by the taxes would cause more production to relocate to the United States.

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      But U.S. and foreign automakers with domestic plants still depend on Canada, Mexico and other nations for parts and finished vehicles, meaning that auto prices could increase and sales could decline as new factories take time to build.

      >> What is a tariff and who pays it?

      Alabama is home to several auto assembly plants such as Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz.

      The Mercedes-Benz plant, located in Tuscaloosa County, is a big deal to the Alabama economy. More than 6,000 employees work at the 6 million square-foot plant in Vance.

      There's also a 3 million square-foot plant in Bibb County.

      Mercedes-Benz told WVTM 13 in a statement that they are eyeing the impact of the tariffs, as the company relies on trade across international markets. They also said that they support free and fair trade that underpins prosperity, growth and innovation.

      Watch below to see the possible political consequences of President Trump's new tariffs this week.

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          Sen. Tommy Tuberville is hoping people will understand the decision behind the tariffs once they hear Trump plan.

          "I think everybody's concerned obviously my constituents in Alabama we have a lot of car manufacturing in the country, which is good because if they're made here, you don't have to pay the tariff. Obviously, there's parts going in and out that will be tariffed, but I think Wednesday, President Trump will communicate hopefully, from a big press conference and give a speech about what he's doing and why he's doing it, what direction we're gonna go. I think it will calm the American people down. It will calm the economy down a little bit," said Tuberville.

          Slightly more than one million people are employed domestically in the manufacturing of motor vehicles and parts, about 320,000 fewer than in 2000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another 2.1 million people work at auto and parts dealerships.

          The United States last year imported nearly 8 million cars and light trucks worth $244 billion. Mexico, Japan and South Korea were the top sources of foreign vehicles. Imports of auto parts came to more than $197 billion, led by Mexico, Canada and China, according to the Commerce Department.

          This article contains information from The Associated Press.