The Interchange

States consider stronger vehicle-safety measures amid a federal stalemate, positioning state-level regulation as the near-term path to reduce roadway risk. Policymakers look to tools within their authority to curb dangerous driving, encourage safer vehicle features, and improve protection for people outside cars, using state levers to advance safety where national standards lag.

Major automakers press Donald Trump to dilute or undo Biden-era vehicle emissions rules, seeking looser targets for future model years. The push reflects industry efforts to reduce compliance burdens and reshape the federal approach to tailpipe standards, with manufacturers advocating for more flexibility in how and when they meet environmental requirements.

Alcoa’s chief executive warns that U.S. tariff policy threatens to suppress domestic demand for metals, arguing that higher trade barriers would raise costs and curb consumption. The caution highlights potential ripple effects for manufacturers and other sectors that rely on competitively priced aluminum and related materials across supply chains.