“It’s scary to see, especially in these times. We all need our jobs. We don’t know what to expect,” Keith Crowell said.
ARLINGTON, Texas — As the American auto industry and auto part makers brace for the tariffs, so are United Auto Worker Local 276 President Keith Crowell and his union members.
President Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on imported cars and certain auto parts is aimed at protecting American manufacturing and reducing trade deficits.
The union leader told WFAA that since about 80% of the parts they install at GM’s Arlington plant are imported, some auto workers are on edge.
“It’s scary to see, especially in these times. We all need our jobs,” Keith Crowell said. “We don’t know what to expect. There’s no need to panic. We’ve been through hard times before, and we came through.”
The auto tariff impact could be huge in Texas, especially in DFW. Arlington is home to General Motors’ most productive plant.
Crowell told WFAA that many of the parts they install are made overseas. His GM plant also does business with many local auto suppliers in the North Texas area. Some of the businesses are start-ups, and others are franchises.
WFAA reached out to GM, who referred to an AAPC statement saying tariffs must be implemented in a way that avoids raising prices for consumers and preserves the competitiveness of the integrated North American automotive sector.
“U.S. Automakers are committed to President Trump’s vision of increasing automotive production and jobs in the U.S. and will continue to work with the Administration on durable policies that help Americans. In particular, it is critical that tariffs are implemented in a way that avoids raising prices for consumers and that preserves the competitiveness of the integrated North American automotive sector that has been a key success of the President’s USMCA agreement.” said Governor Matt Blunt, president of AAPC.
That’s a major concern for Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. He coauthored a two-page letter with San Antonio’s mayor to Texas Senators Cruz and Cornyn about the tariffs.
“We make all of the GM SUVs here in Arlington, Texas,” Mayor Ross said. “Impacts that it would have on the 5,600 employees that work at the GM assembly plant and the 3,200 or so employees that work at the Toyota assembly plant in San Antonio.”
Crowell supports plans to increase all auto production in America, but he believes tariffs come with a huge cost. He shared a message to the people who buy the vehicles they build in Texas.
“Keep buying our products. We built a good quality product. I know the sticker price may be a little shocking, but it is definitely worth it.”
Crowell isn’t against making sure more vehicles are made 100% in America. He is, however, concerned about the plan to get the country to that goal.
