Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has hit out at U.S. carmaker Ford, claiming that its recent announcement to move small car production from America to Mexico is “horrible” and will result in the loss of U.S. jobs.
The recent announcement by Ford - which declared that the production of its small cars like its Focus hatchback will move to a factory over the Mexican border – was influenced by a forecasted fall in pre-tax profits.
With profit margins slim at its plant in Wayne, Michigan, Ford has opted to build small cars in Mexico instead, as labour is cheaper and therefore there offers more potential for profit.
Trump hits out at Ford
As Ford announced that building a new factory in Mexico would create 2,800 new Mexican jobs, Trump hit out at the company saying that all those working at the Michigan plant would lose their jobs.
He said: “Basically when they make their car, and they think they’re going to get away with this, and they fire all of their employees in the United States and... move to Mexico.”
The Republican presidential candidate then claimed that if he was elected, and Ford went ahead with its plans to move its small car production to Mexico, he would levy a massive 35 per cent tax on any vehicles coming into the U.S. from another country. This would help ensure that any car on U.S. roads is also built there.
Trump added: “When that car comes back across the border into our country that now comes in free, we're gonna charge them a 35 per cent tax. And you know what's gonna happen, they're never going to leave.”
Ford hits back at Trump
Ford responded to Trump’s comments by confirming that none of its Michigan-based employees are going to lose their jobs, as it plans to repopulate the Michigan plant with the production of other car models.
According to CNN, Ford spokesperson Christine Baker, said: “Ford has been in the United States for more than 100 years. Our home is here. We will be here forever.”
This isn’t the first time Ford and Trump have bumped heads. Last October both parties had a disagreement about the same issue, with Trump attempting to persuade Ford that building a factory in Mexico was a bad idea.
