Tariffs and Trade: Impact on the American Industrial Base
GlobalAutoIndustry.com’s latest Audio Interview “Tariffs and Trade: Impact on the American Industrial Base” features Ambrose Conroy. Ambrose is the Founder and CEO of Seraph, a hands-on firm that delivers rapid, significant, and sustainable solutions to improve operational excellence for clients. Ambrose founded Seraph to bring together a team of top industry talent with the expertise to deliver measurable results. Prior to founding Seraph, Ambrose held various leadership positions, including Vice President of Supply Chain Solutions at NAI Global and leader of the West Coast Global Business Transformation Group at PA Consulting, where he supported clients in due diligence, crisis management, and strategic business transformation. He began his career as a consultant for CSC.
In the 21-minute Audio Interview, Mr. Conroy discusses these questions:
- There seems to be bipartisan consensus regarding tariffs on Chinese-manufactured vehicles. How do you see this affecting both established automotive supply chains and emerging Chinese OEMs trying to enter the U.S. market? What about suppliers?
- Your view is many are not ready for a new wave of tariffs. What specific vulnerabilities or gaps in preparation have you observed, and what immediate steps should companies take to address them?
- You mentioned that new administration policies may be implemented faster than expected. What specific changes should automotive companies be preparing for in 2025?
- Looking at historical examples, what lessons can we apply to current trade policy decisions to ensure we protect domestic manufacturing while avoiding unintended consequences for the automotive sector?
- You previously shared that NATO’s Military Committee Chair recently suggested businesses should prepare for a ‘Wartime Scenario’ by relocating production lines. How realistic is this for the automotive industry, and what would such a transition look like?
