Spectre of auto tariffs spurs car buyers to rush purchases

NEAL BOUDETTE COVERS the car industry from Detroit. For this story, Neal, Mark Bonamo and several other reporters fanned out to dealerships in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Michigan and Illinois.

- NEAL E BOUDETTE & MARK BONAMO

Ziggy Duchnowski spent Saturday morning car shopping along Northern Boulevard in Queens with two goals in mind.

He wanted to find a new small car for his wife, and he hoped to strike a deal before the new tariffs that President Trump is imposing on imported cars and trucks affect prices.

"The word on the street is prices are going to shoot up now," said Duchnowski, 45, a union carpenter who voted for Trump, holding the hands of his two small children.

The tariffs—25% on vehicles and parts produced outside the United States—will have a broad impact on the North American auto industry. They are supposed to go into effect on April 3 and are sure to raise the prices of new cars and trucks.