Pictured are cars set for export to the United States from Japan, where recently a deal was made to reduce US implemented auto tariffs from 25% to 15%. AP photo

Tariff talk has somewhat died down in recent weeks, but at least one local car dealer says tariffs may still be on consumers’ minds.

Nationally, over the past few months the idea of the Trump administration’s imposed tariffs on different goods and services has become common news, including a 25% tariff on auto imports that was put into effect on April 3. Since that time, both national and local car dealerships have been and still are waiting to see how that might affect them.

While the United States still has a standing 25% auto tariff on most imported auto parts, some deals have been made since the tariffs were first imposed in April. This includes the most recent reduction of Japanese auto tariffs which was finalized on Sept. 5, reducing that specific tariff on auto parts from Japan to 15%, according to an article by The Associated Press.

A CNN article states that every automaker is affected by the tariffs, as every major car company imports cars from foreign plants they sell at United States dealerships except for Tesla. The article also states that most car dealerships are waiting to feel the full effect of the tariffs as they continue to work through their stock of pre-tariff cars.

Locally, Dave Warren, owner and operator of Dave Warren Auto Group in Jamestown, said mostly customers are still waiting to see what happens as time goes on.

“The biggest thing I see with the tariffs at this point is I think it puts a lot of consumer’s spending on hold as they wait and see what happens with the tariffs,” Warren said.

So far, the dealership itself has had difficulty in getting parts, which Warren said makes it more difficult to service customers’ vehicles as fast as they would like or would do normally. While the 25% auto tariff remains nationally, he said for most they are still waiting to see what happens in the future.

“There has always been tariffs, I just think at this point it’s just still a wait and see game,” Warren said.