US Tariffs Hit Automakers With $1.4 Billion Bill; FDA Approves Pig Kidney Transplant Trials

US tariffs are taking a major toll on automakers. In July, car companies paid more than $1.4 billion in tariffs on vehicles and auto parts imported from Canada and Mexico, according to consulting firm Anderson Economic Group.

The new costs follow the implementation of 25% tariffs on cars and parts that began in April and May. While General Motors, Stellantis, Ford, Tesla, and Hyundai assemble many of their vehicles in the United States, the companies still rely heavily on parts imported from neighboring countries. Tariffs on those imports alone cost nearly $300 million in July, adding new pressure on manufacturers and potentially consumers.

At the same time, a breakthrough in medical research is making headlines. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first human trials of pig kidney transplants. The move marks a milestone in xenotransplantation, the process of transplanting animal organs into humans.

Biotech company eGenesis is leading the effort, using gene-editing technology to remove genetic markers in pigs that typically trigger immediate rejection in human patients.

The decision builds on experimental procedures conducted in recent years where patients with no other options received pig kidneys or even pig hearts. Experts hope this could offer a life-saving solution to the more than 100,000 Americans currently waiting for an organ transplant, most of them in need of kidneys.

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