Zachary Mottl, Chairman of the Coalition for a Prosperous America, said that President Trump’s new UK trade deal validates the “America First” strategy by protecting U.S. industry.
“This deal is a clear validation of President Trump’s America First trade strategy,” said Zachary J Mottl, according to The White House. “By maintaining the 10% baseline tariff and capping UK auto imports at 100,000 vehicles per year. The administration is demonstrating that trade policy can and should be used to protect and rebuild domestic industry.”
The U.S.-UK trade agreement announced in May 2025 exemplifies President Trump’s “America First” trade strategy by implementing protective measures for domestic industries. The deal reduces tariffs on British car imports from 27.5% to 10% for up to 100,000 vehicles annually while maintaining a 10% baseline tariff on most other imports. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, this approach reflects a shift from multilateral trade agreements to bilateral deals that prioritize U.S. economic interests and leverage tariffs to negotiate favorable terms.
According to Reuters, the agreement includes provisions allowing up to 100,000 UK-made vehicles to enter the U.S. annually at a 10% tariff. This arrangement could create a disparity with vehicles imported under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which often face higher effective tariffs despite incorporating more North American content. Industry groups cited in the article note that such differences in tariff treatment may influence production and sourcing decisions across the automotive supply chain.
In 2024, as reported by the UK’s Department for Business and Trade, the United Kingdom exported approximately £9.0 billion worth of cars to the United States, accounting for 27.4% of its total car exports. The 2025 U.S.-UK trade agreement introduced a quota allowing 100,000 UK-made vehicles to enter the U.S. market annually at a reduced 10% tariff, down from the previous 27.5%. However, this preferential treatment for UK vehicles undermines the competitiveness of North American-produced cars, potentially impacting American workers and suppliers.
Zachary Justin Mottl is also noted as being the fourth-generation owner and President of Atlas Tool Works, a precision manufacturing company founded in 1918 and based in Lyons, Illinois. Under his leadership, according to Mottl’s statement on behalf of CPA, the company provides metal fabrication and machining services to sectors including defense, aerospace, medical, and telecommunications. Mottl also serves as Chairman of CPA, a nonprofit organization advocating for trade and industrial policies that support U.S. manufacturing and economic independence.
