U.S. Auto Industry Lobbyists Urge Trump to Block Chinese Car Production in America
Washington, D.C. – U.S. domestic automakers and suppliers urged President Trump on Friday to shut the door on Chinese vehicle manufacturing within the United States.
In a letter addressed to the president, industry groups called for a firm rejection of Chinese automakers seeking to sell, import, or produce vehicles in the U.S., expressing gratitude for Trump’s stated commitment to American automotive interests.
The coalition signing the letter includes organizations that do not always align on policy issues, such as the American Auto Policy Council, representing Detroit-based manufacturers, and Auto Drives America, which advocates for automakers with U.S. facilities in Japan, Germany, and other countries.
The letter was issued following Trump’s recent interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, during which he stated he would remain open to Chinese companies establishing factories in the U.S. as long as they employed American workers.
“The key is that they hire our people,” Trump said at the time, while reiterating his strong opposition to importing Chinese vehicles from Mexico or other countries.
Nevertheless, industry lobbying groups—including suppliers and dealers—argued in the letter that allowing Chinese firms to establish operations in the U.S. would undermine domestic interests.
According to AFP, unlike European, Japanese, and South Korean brands that operate based on market principles, Chinese automakers are perceived as being state-backed, and their entry could weaken the competitiveness of the U.S. auto sector.
“Even if Chinese cars are assembled in the U.S., they cannot eliminate cybersecurity risks associated with connected vehicles,” the groups stated.
“Even when built in American plants, these facilities would still rely on Chinese suppliers and components. The jobs created by Chinese production in the U.S. would be limited, and supply chains would remain dependent on foreign sources.
They asserted, “Domestic production of Chinese vehicles would not advance the agenda of U.S. industrial resilience or national security.”
Industry lobbying groups thanked Trump for maintaining punitive tariffs on imported Chinese automobiles, noting that this measure has shielded the U.S. from the surge in low-cost Chinese vehicles seen in Europe and other markets.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876710763130892/
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