Blunt said in an interview the U.S. companies and workers “definitely are at a disadvantage” because they face a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum and a 25% tariff on parts and finished vehicles, with some exceptions for products covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that went into effect in 2020.

A deal with Japan and a potential deal with Europe follows months of uncertainty and will likely raise prices while offering a bit of clarity for global trade.

Blunt was similarly critical in May after Trump announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom. Under the terms of that deal, the first 100,000 vehicles imported from UK manufacturers each year will be subject to a 10% tariff. Any additional cars each year would be subject to the higher 25% rate.