On April 15, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) submitted comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in response to the March 17, 2026, request for comment relating to the Section 301 Investigation of Acts, Policies, and Practices of Certain Economies Relating to Structural Excess Capacity and Production in Manufacturing Sectors.

Overview

JAMA members are among the largest and longest-standing foreign direct investors in the United States. Since establishing their first U.S. vehicle manufacturing operations more than 40 years ago, Japanese-brand automakers have steadily expanded their domestic footprint. This commitment is reflected in the following:

• Record Investment and Job Creation Across the U.S. – Today, JAMA members operate 26 manufacturing facilities across the country, spanning vehicle, engine, transmission, parts, and battery production. In 2025, cumulative U.S. manufacturing investment reached a record $70.1 billion, and over time, these investments have supported an estimated 2.2 million jobs nationwide.
• Domestic Manufacturing at an All-Time High – Over the last 40 years, more vehicles have been built in the U.S., and fewer have been imported from Japan. Around 75% of the vehicles JAMA members sell in the U.S. are built in North America, including roughly half produced in the U.S.
• Continued Commitment to U.S. Production – In the past 10 years, JAMA members have invested $28 billion into new U.S. manufacturing initiatives, including Toyota and Honda’s battery manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Ohio, respectively, and Isuzu’s new commercial truck manufacturing facility, which is opening in South Carolina next year.

However, sustaining this longstanding commitment to U.S. investment requires clear and consistent trade policies and as such any potential tariff actions under the Section 301 investigation should align with the framework established under the United States–Japan Trade Agreement. Doing so will help ensure Japanese-brand automakers remain key contributors to domestic manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and workforce development.

Conclusion

Over the last four decades, Japanese-brand automakers have established a substantial and widespread U.S. manufacturing footprint, supported American jobs, and strengthened local communities. JAMA members are committed to continuing this growth and investment, but that depends on stable, predictable trade policies.

To sustain this momentum and support continued growth in domestic manufacturing, JAMA strongly urges the Administration to uphold the United States–Japan Trade Agreement, including the commitment that the 15 percent Section 232 tariff rate on automobiles and automobile parts be inclusive of MFN rates as well as ensuring that additional tariffs are not stacked upon them. JAMA also requests that Japanese-brand automakers’ substantial and growing domestic manufacturing presence is fully reflected when developing and implementing any future trade policies affecting the automotive sector.

To read JAMA’s full comment submission, click here. 

Visit JAMAinAmerica.org to learn more about JAMA members’ strong commitment to U.S. manufacturing and the American workforce.