WASHINGTON, D.C. -

The Association of Global Automakers inserted a clever line as part of its 12 pages of comments in connection with the U.S. Department of Commerce Section 232 investigation into automotive imports that includes a Trump administration proposal, based ostensibly on “national security” grounds, to impose high tariffs on vehicle imports and parts.

“America does not go to war in a Ford Fiesta,” the organization said on Wednesday as part its “Here for America” campaign, which also highlighted how much of an impact foreign OEMs have in the United States, including:

— Generated 1.29 million direct and indirect American jobs.

— Invested $75 billion into their U.S. operations that include automotive production, vehicle design, and research and development

— Built more than 5 million cars and trucks in America in 2017, accounting for 47 percent of all U.S. light-duty vehicle production

— Exported about a million American vehicles every year

The document that can be viewed here also noted research firm LMC Automotive calculated that a 25-percent duty on imported vehicles would result in domestic sales falling by 1 to 2 million units per year.

The document also highlights the 12 states that have a major foreign auto manufacturing presence with some of the plants beginning to build vehicles and other parts going back as far as 1972.

“These tariffs will harm today’s U.S. auto industry, which is comprised of fourteen auto manufacturers, all of which are global and 10 of which are international automakers. Each of these companies employ American workers to produce cars in the United States, and tariffs will substantially increase prices for consumers,” said John Bozzella, president and chief executive officer of Global Automakers on behalf of the “Here for America” initiative.

“There is no national security justification for taxing imports of vehicles and parts or discriminating between global companies headquartered here or in allied countries. Every U.S. production facility in the industry could be made available in a national emergency, and the 130,000 Americans who work directly for international automakers are no less patriotic or willing to serve their country in a time of crisis than any other American,” Bozzella continued.

“If this investigation leads to tariffs, retaliation against U.S. exports is inevitable,” Bozzella added. “Substantial tariffs against major U.S. auto exports have in fact already been announced, placing American auto workers on the front lines of this trade conflict.”