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The Trump administration is considering imposing a 25 percent tariff on imports of automobiles and auto parts, ostensibly to protect the domestic U.S. auto industry and manufacturing base. But increased imports of autos and auto parts doesn’t actually correlate to a decline in U.S. auto manufacturing jobs or auto dealership jobs. In fact, over the past decade, U.S. jobs in both of those parts of the auto sector have grown while imports of autos and auto parts have expanded.

U.S. Jobs: Manufacturing and Deals, Autos and Parts, Thousands, Seasonally Adjusted
Year	Manufacturing Jobs	Dealer Jobs	Total Auto Jobs
2007	994.2083	1908.508	2902.7
2008	875.5417	1830.442	2706
2009	664.2333	1637.383	2301
2010	678.325	1629.708	2308
2011	717.8583	1691.242	2409.1
2012	777.3333	1737.333	2514.7
2013	824.9	1793.483	2618.4
2014	871.9833	1862.075	2734.1
2015	913.5333	1928.933	2842.5
2016	944.1833	1979.633	2923.8
2017	952.525	2008.408	2960.9
Data: Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

U.S. Auto Trade Balance, Millions USD
2007	-104,198
2008	-80,686
2009	-55,566
2010	-82,408
2011	-80,918
2012	-104,757
2013	-113,752
2014	-124,532
2015	-150,264
2016	-154,763
2017	-158,182
Data: U.S. Census Bureau. Data covers HTS 8701, 8702, 8703, 8704, 8705, 8708.

Notes

For more on the potential auto tariffs and its potential impact on the industry, check out this episode of the Trade Guys podcast with special guest Cody Lusk, who is the president and CEO of the American International Automobile Dealers Association.