Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell  and Senator Doug Jones

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), and Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA) led a bipartisan letter, cosigned by 149 Members of Congress, to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross expressing concern with the Section 232 investigation into the import of automobiles and automobile parts.  The letter highlights the auto industry’s importance to American working families and the nation’s economy and the vast network of international suppliers that the industry relies on to stay competitive. Alabama Senator Doug Jones is mounting a similar bi-partisan effort with Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander to oppose tariffs on automobiles and automobile parts. “These tariffs will raise the price of cars to consumers and causes job losses in Alabama. We are particularly concerned that President Trump is using a ‘national defense’ pretext for imposing these tariffs when there are no national defense concerns involved,” said Jones “President Trump’s proposed auto tariffs would drive an estimated 195,000 jobs out of the United States and wreck Alabama’s growing manufacturing base,” said Rep. Terri Sewell. “I’m proud to see Republicans and Democrats standing together in support of auto workers and against the Trump Administration’s reckless and isolationist trade policy. “In my home state of Alabama, the car manufacturing sector provides tens of thousands of workers a skilled job with good wages and good benefits. Rather than endangering those jobs through a trade war with our allies, we need to strengthen our trading relationships to better position U.S. workers in the global marketplace.” Economists estimate that a 25 percent tariff on all foreign automobiles and auto parts would cost 195,000 American jobs. Moreover, if countries chose to retaliate, as they have with recent tariffs, economists say that 624,000 American jobs could be lost. Alabama’s automotive manufacturing sector is approaching nearly 40,000 jobs and motor vehicle exports topped $7.75 billion in 2017.