FLINT, MICHIGAN – Nestled just north of downtown, a historic red brick building known as Factory One stands as a powerful symbol of Flint's rich automotive heritage. This factory, the birthplace of General Motors, embodies the innovation and industry that once flourished in this Michigan city.

Yet as President Donald Trump's tariffs on automobiles loom large, the city is bracing for a potential economic upheaval. Experts warn that these tariffs designed to resurrect jobs could instead cripple the North American auto industry by inflating vehicle prices, making them less competitive and accessible.

"Someone fell asleep at the wheel," remarked Maurice Pope at the Flint Farmer's Market, encapsulating the frustration many Michiganders feel as they grapple with the uncertainty of a trade war. With nearly 20% of the state’s economy reliant on the motor vehicle sector, Flint may find itself at the forefront of economic turbulence.

The tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico have added pressure to an already intricate automotive supply chain. Steel and aluminum, critical components in vehicle manufacturing, are heavily sourced from these neighbors, and Trump's 25% tariffs on Canadian imports have further complicated matters.

Flint has historically been known as 'Vehicle City,' thriving since the late 1800s through its carriage production, which seamlessly transitioned into auto manufacturing in the early 1900s. The city's economic boom in the following decades established it as a crucial player in the industry.

By the 1960s, the dominance of the Big Three—Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler—was undeniable, controlling about 90% of the U.S. auto market. Chris Douglas, an economics professor at the University of Michigan-Flint, recalls a time when graduating high school meant stepping straight into a lucrative job at an auto factory.

However, economic currents shifted dramatically. The oil crises of the 1970s sparked a decline as consumers turned to more fuel-efficient Japanese vehicles. This pivotal moment was further complicated by economic strategies implemented during the Reagan administration, which temporarily helped stabilize American auto manufacturing.

Despite efforts to protect U.S. jobs through trade agreements like the renegotiated Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, industry experts, including Alan Deardorff from the University of Michigan, suggest that Trump's implementation of tariffs may have undermined these protections, threatening to dismantle the gains made.

Union leaders like Shawn Fain have expressed concerns over the repercussions of these trade policies, emphasizing the chaotic nature of the current administration's approach and the potential impacts on auto workers.

Even if the tariffs manage to bring some manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., experts warn that the landscape has irrevocably changed. Automation in car production has significantly reduced the number of workers needed to assemble a vehicle, making it difficult for the industry to return to its former glory.

According to the Anderson Economic Group, the tariffs could inflate car prices by as much as $5,000 for the most affordable models and a staggering $12,000 for full-sized SUVs, pushing consumers toward a breaking point.

The impact extends beyond just American shores; Canada, a major buyer of U.S. vehicles, may retaliate with tariffs of its own, complicating the economic landscape further.

Despite these challenges, many in Flint remain hopeful, with thousands still employed at the longest-running General Motors assembly plant in North America. Yet, there’s also a palpable anxiety among residents about the future of their jobs and community. Some fear that plant closures could lead to a mass exodus from a city historically defined by the auto industry.

For individuals like Megan Heuninck, who doesn’t work in the auto sector but feels the broader economic strains, there’s uncertainty about how such policies will ripple through the local economy.

As Flint stands on the brink of potential upheaval, its fate remains closely tied to the whims of trade policy and the ever-evolving landscape of the automotive industry.