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Ford engine and other U.S. automakers have asked for relief from aluminum tariffs after fires at a major U.S. factory created vehicle supply bottlenecks, although the Trump administration has so far rejected the requests, a report said.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Ford had petitioned the Trump administration for help, citing people with knowledge of the conversations.
According to the report, the requests have come in recent weeks, with the automaker asking the government for relief from duties at least until Novelis’ aluminum rolling mill in Oswego, New York, is fully operational again after two fires last year.
The Oswego facility, the largest domestic supplier of aluminum sheets to the U.S. automotive industry, will likely remain offline until June.
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A Ford logo on a Ford F-150 pickup for sale in Encinitas, California, on October 20, 2025. (Reuters/Mike Blake/File Photo / Reuters Photos)
The administration has not yet relented, the report said, adding that the discussions are part of ongoing conversations about President Trump’s impact. Donald Trump‘s rates.
Trump officials told the companies they had already received some relief from national security tariffs Last year, when major car manufacturers were allowed to reclaim some of the 25% import duties on car parts, the report said.
A Ford logo is seen at Ford Motor World headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan on March 12, 2025. (Reuters/Rebecca Cook/File Photo / Reuters Photos)
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The facade of the factory building of the company’s recycling center reads “Novelis”. Novelis is a manufacturer of rolled aluminum products. (Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/Photo Alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Novelis has compensated for lost production by purchasing aluminum from its factories South Korea and Europe, although those imports now face a 50% tariff under the Trump administration.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | FORD MOTORCO. | 12.11 | +0.57 |
+4.94% |
| STLA | STELLANTIS NV | 7.98 | +0.55 |
+7.41% |
| GM | GENERAL MOTORS CO. | 76.77 | +4.00 |
+5.50% |
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The factory also supplies Stellantis and General enginesbut Ford is its biggest customer, as its trucks, like the F-150, rely heavily on aluminum bodies.
Reuters contributed to this report.
