Former President Donald Trump, standing alongside two John Deere tractors, announced on Monday that he would impose a 200-percent tariff on products imported to the United States if the company relocates its manufacturing operations to Mexico.
This commitment to safeguarding American manufacturing jobs was made during a roundtable discussion in Smithton, Pennsylvania, which included farmers, former Acting Director of National Security Ric Grenell, Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick from Pennsylvania, and former U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin (R-NY).
“I just noticed behind me John Deere tractors. I know a lot about John Deere. I love the company, but, as you know, they’ve announced a few days ago that they’re going to move a lot of their manufacturing business to Mexico,” Trump said.
“I’m just notifying John Deere right now: If you do that, we’re putting a 200-percent tariff on everything that you want to sell into the United States,” Trump warned.
John Deere disclosed plans for significant layoffs in June, which were implemented on August 30. This decision was part of the company’s restructuring efforts at its facilities located in East Moline, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa.
“They haven’t started it yet. Maybe they haven’t even made the final decision yet, but I think they have,” he said.
Due to the negative impact on American farmers and manufacturing workers, Trump stated that any company that relocates manufacturing to Mexico in search of lower labor costs would face significant tariffs.
“They think they’re going to make product cheaper in Mexico and then sell it in for the same prices they did before, make a lot of money by getting rid of our labor and our jobs,” he emphasized.
Trump, who commended the company’s products and mentioned that he purchases them as an individual, stated that imposing a tariff on John Deere would result in one of two outcomes.
He indicated that either the United States would generate substantial revenue from the tariff, or John Deere would refrain from establishing manufacturing facilities in Mexico. Additionally, he observed that the company could opt to produce in Mexico and sell to other nations that do not impose tariffs as a potential third option. Trump emphasized that there would be no tariff on goods manufactured within the country.
“You know what’s going to happen? They’re going to announce very shortly if they think I’m going to win, or, if I do win, they’re going to announce that they’re not going to build in Mexico,” he said.
