President Trump will visit Macomb County today for a visit to Dana Inc. in the heart of a bellwether county in a bellwether state. This will not be a campaign rally, so here's what you can likely expect, according to The Detroit News:
President Donald Trump (Campaign photo)
Experts say Trump likely will focus heavily on the passage of the replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement — a campaign promise turned-political-win that industry analysts predict will be a boon for the U.S. auto industry, for Michigan and for Detroit.
"I expect the president to boast about his accomplishment in getting NAFTA replaced with the new USMCA agreement," said Patrick Anderson, CEO of the East Lansing-based Anderson Economic Group. He'll "take credit for a very important trade agreement that will have strong effects on states like Michigan. The signing of the USMCA together with the tax cut are probably the two biggest economic decisions that the Trump administration has made in terms of affecting workers in the Midwest."
Under the USMCA, automakers will have to produce vehicles with 75% of parts originating from the United States, Canada or Mexico to qualify for duty-free treatment. The requirement, referred to as “rules of origin,” is an increase from 62.5% under current NAFTA rules. In addition, 40-to-45% of a vehicle's content must be made by workers earning at least $16 an hour. Vehicles not meeting the requirements will be subject to a 2.5% duty.
Roughly 800 people work at the Dana facility in Warren, making axle and driveline components for automotive manufacturers.
No word on how long the visit will last.
