In the latest indication that he would use tariffs aggressively if he wins in November, former President Trump reportedly threatened Illinois-based John Deere on Monday with enormous tariffs on its products if it outsources some of its manufacturing to Mexico, as it had previously announced.
“I just noticed behind me John Deere tractors. I know a lot about John Deere, I love the company,” Trump said at a recent event with farmers.
“But as you know, they’ve announced a few days ago that they’re going to move a lot of their manufacturing business to Mexico. I’m just notifying John Deere right now, if you do that, we’re putting a 200 percent tariff on everything you want to sell into the United States, so that if I win John Deere is going to be paying a 200 percent — they haven’t started it yet. Maybe they haven’t even made the final decision yet. But I think they have.” he added.
John Deere, a company that specializes in the sale of tractors, agricultural harvesters, and other large equipment, is currently in the process of reducing its workforce by approximately 600 employees at its facilities in Iowa and Illinois.
The cutbacks were implemented in conjunction with a more extensive restructuring of the company’s operations, which included the intention to relocate the production of skid steer loaders and compact track loaders to Mexico by the conclusion of 2026.
A request for comment regarding Trump’s tariff threats was not promptly addressed by John Deere.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to impose tariffs on all imported products, has threatened to use tariffs to compel U.S. companies to base manufacturing domestically, and has suggested that tariffs could be used to reduce the cost of child care, a statement that drew criticism from Democrats.
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