Trump Holds Off on New Machinery, Robotics Tariffs in Win for Manufacturers

The Trump administration handed manufacturers a big win yesterday, announcing that it will impose no new tariffs on robotics, industrial machinery and their parts and components. Following the Section 232 investigation launched in September 2025, the administration directed the secretary of commerce and Office of the United States Trade Representative to negotiate agreements to address the national security threat posed by related imports.

• The NAM was among the first to make this case last year, proposing the NAM’s U.S. Manufacturing Investment Accelerator—a temporary “speed pass” to import critical inputs without added tariff costs as we ramp up production here at home.

What it says: The proclamation states that robotics, industrial machinery and their components “are being imported into the U.S. under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security.”

• To support this finding, it cites the reliance on foreign imports, “unique security and safety risks” and a lack of sufficient domestic capacity to produce robotics and machinery.
• The proclamation also cited an unreleased report by the secretary of commerce showing that “without intervention, challenges for U.S. manufacturers investing in robotics and industrial machinery will likely continue.” Therefore, the administration must act “to strengthen, expand, and modernize the domestic manufacturing and industrial base for robotics, industrial machinery, and their components.”

The path forward: The Department of Commerce and USTR must jointly pursue negotiations to “address the threatened impairment of the national security,” according to the proclamation.

• However, if the agencies do not enter into negotiations within 180 days of the proclamation, the president may consider alternative remedies in the future, including the imposition or modification of tariffs or quotas.

The timeline: The Commerce secretary and USTR will update the president on the progress of negotiations within 180 days and will continue to monitor imports.

The NAM says: “This is an important decision to help strengthen manufacturing in America,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons.

• “To make more in America, manufacturers need access to specialized machinery and equipment to build everything from aircraft to medical devices,” he added. “The NAM has consistently called for greater access to critical manufacturing inputs like capital equipment, enabling manufacturers to continue investing, expanding production and creating jobs here at home. Let’s make it easier to make things in America. When manufacturing wins, America wins.”