Why Trump’s Tariffs Will Work: Lessons from Cuba’s Refurbished Classics and the Power of American Ingenuity

Why Tariffs Will Work

President Donald J. Trump’s recent 25% tariffs on imported cars and auto parts, announced on March 26, 2025, and effective as of April 3, have sparked heated debate. Critics warn of rising car prices—potentially $3,000 to $15,000 per vehicle depending on the model—supply chain disruptions, and economic strain on consumers. But what if the naysayers are missing the bigger picture? What if these tariffs are exactly the push America needs to revive its manufacturing spirit and reclaim its industrial independence? To understand why Trump’s tariffs will work, let’s take a surprising lesson from Cuba—a country that’s been under economic restrictions for decades—and pair it with the untapped potential of America’s own industrial backbone.

Cuba’s Refurbished Classics: A Testament to Resilience

Picture the streets of Havana: vibrant, colorful, and filled with vintage cars from the 1950s—Chevys, Fords, and Buicks that look like they rolled straight out of a time capsule. These aren’t museum pieces; they’re daily drivers. In the U.S., cars from that era would be rusting in junkyards, deemed too old or inefficient to maintain. So why are they still running in Cuba? The answer lies in necessity-driven ingenuity.

Since the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on Cuba in the 1960s, new cars and parts have been nearly impossible to come by. Cubans couldn’t import the latest models, so they mastered the art of refurbishing what they had. Mechanics in Cuba became wizards at keeping old cars alive, often fabricating parts from scratch or repurposing materials. A 1955 Chevy might have a Soviet-era engine swapped in, with handmade gaskets and a jury-rigged fuel system. These cars aren’t just running—they’re thriving, carrying families, taxi passengers, and tourists across the island.

Cuba’s example shows us something powerful: you don’t need shiny new factories or cutting-edge tech to keep things moving. You need resourcefulness, skilled labor, and a willingness to work with what you’ve got. If Cubans can keep 70-year-old cars on the road without access to modern supply chains, imagine what American workers—backed by Trump’s tariffs—could do with refurbished factories and a renewed focus on domestic production.

Refurbishing America’s Industrial Might

Trump’s tariffs aim to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., and critics argue that building new factories takes years and billions of dollars—too long and too costly to make a difference. But what if we don’t need new factories right away? What if, like Cuba, we can refurbish what we already have?

America’s industrial heartland is dotted with old factories—some shuttered, some underutilized—that could be brought back to life. Take Detroit, once the epicenter of American auto production. In 1985, U.S.-owned facilities manufactured 11 million vehicles, making up 97% of domestic production. By 2024, only 25% of the content in the 16 million cars Americans bought was Made in America. Foreign imports and offshoring eroded our industrial base, but the bones of that base are still there. Old factories, even beat-up ones, can be polished up, retrofitted with modern equipment over time, and put back to work producing cars and parts.

The tariffs give automakers a clear incentive: build in the U.S., or pay a 25% penalty on imports. While new factories might take years, refurbishing existing ones can happen much faster. Companies like General Motors and Ford, which already have excess capacity in the U.S., can ramp up production in these facilities. Even foreign automakers like Hyundai, which pledged $21 billion in U.S. investments after Trump’s announcement, can repurpose existing infrastructure to start producing sooner. An old factory with refurbished equipment and skilled American workers can churn out cars and parts while new investments catch up.

Economic Impact: Jobs, Innovation, and Long-Term Growth

The immediate critique of Trump’s tariffs is the price hike—estimates suggest new car prices could rise by $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the model, and used car prices might climb as demand shifts. But let’s look at the bigger picture. A 2024 economic analysis cited by the White House found that a global 10% tariff would grow the U.S. economy by $728 billion, create 2.8 million jobs, and increase real household incomes by 5.7%. Studies from Trump’s first term also showed that tariffs reduced imports from China, stimulated U.S. production, and had minimal impact on inflation—contrary to what critics predicted.

By making imported cars and parts more expensive, Trump’s tariffs force automakers to rethink their supply chains. Instead of assembling vehicles in Mexico or Canada—where labor is cheaper but now comes with a 25% tariff—they’ll bring production stateside. This means jobs for American workers, from factory floors to machine shops fabricating parts. It also sparks innovation: if Cuban mechanics can rebuild a 1950s Chevy with limited resources, American engineers can find ways to produce affordable, high-quality cars using refurbished facilities and domestic parts.

Why It Will Work: The American Spirit Meets Practical Policy

Critics like Jonathan Smoke from Cox Automotive warn that tariffs could cut U.S. auto production by 20,000 cars per week, but they overlook the long-term benefits. Yes, there will be short-term pain—higher prices might deter some buyers, and supply chains will need time to adjust. But the tariffs are a wake-up call for an industry that’s become too reliant on foreign production. Peter Navarro, Trump’s senior counselor on trade, hit the nail on the head: “Foreign trade cheaters have turned America into a lower-wage assembly operation for foreign parts.” These tariffs are about reclaiming our industrial sovereignty.

Cuba’s refurbished cars remind us that necessity breeds ingenuity. Americans don’t need to wait for new factories to start producing again—we can refurbish the old ones, just like Cubans refurbish their classics. The tariffs give us the economic push to make it happen, and the American spirit—our grit, creativity, and work ethic—will do the rest. Trump’s policy isn’t just about cars; it’s about proving that America can still make things, fix things, and lead the world in manufacturing.

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