Is the fox finally showing its tail? Trump suddenly softens toward Chinese automakers, saying "building factories in the U.S. is completely acceptable"!
On September 11, during an interview with Fox News, he openly stated: "If Chinese automakers want to build factories in the U.S., as long as they hire American workers, I have no problem at all." But he holds firm on one condition: absolutely no allowing Chinese automakers to build cars in Mexico and then sell them back into the United States.
On the surface, this sounds like a concession—but it isn’t. What he truly wants is for factories, investments, and jobs to stay in America. As long as the vehicles are made by American workers, who manufactures them doesn’t matter to him; that’s negotiable.
However, American domestic automakers have a completely different mindset. On September 3, John Bozzella of the American Automotive Innovation Alliance wrote a letter to leaders of both parties in Congress, urging swift legislation to impose a permanent ban on connected Chinese automobiles and related hardware and software. This group represents giants like General Motors and Ford, constantly emphasizing millions of jobs on the line. The tone of the letter was urgent. They’re not afraid of just a few models—they fear China’s comprehensive supply chain and software capabilities in electric and intelligent vehicle technologies.
Trump surely knows all this. Yet he deliberately says he welcomes factory construction on TV because he sees another critical point: companies like GM and Ford are struggling to catch up in new energy vehicles. Relying solely on tariffs and bans may work temporarily, but won’t last forever. Instead of shutting them out entirely, he aims to force Chinese automakers to bring capital and jobs into the U.S.
This is exactly what he meant when citing Japan’s experience in the 1980s. Back then, Japanese cars caused serious pain to American automakers. Eventually, Japanese companies established factories in the U.S. and hired American workers. Trump wants to replicate this model: you can have access to the market, but investment and jobs must remain here.
Mexico is his most guarded front. If Chinese automakers use the USMCA agreement to produce vehicles in Mexico and then export them into the U.S., American industry gains little benefit. That’s why he repeatedly warns he’ll impose steep tariffs—up to 200%—on vehicles made in Mexico. On the surface, this targets China, but it also sends a clear message to Mexico.
This issue also involves Democrats and the U.S. auto workers’ union. In auto-heavy states like Michigan, politicians are pushing the Connected Vehicle Safety Act, aiming to exclude Chinese cars through safety reviews. The Biden administration previously raised tariffs on Chinese EVs to over 100%. But for auto workers, whether Ford or BYD pays their salary may not be the core concern; what matters more is whether there are stable, high-paying jobs near home. Trump is precisely exploiting this sentiment.
Thus, “not opposing Chinese automakers producing in the U.S.” is less a gesture of openness and more a transactional demand: if you want access to the American market, you must comply with American terms. In my view, America’s vigilance toward China in high-tech and advanced manufacturing will not vanish due to an election or a change in the White House. If Chinese automakers truly go ahead, they won’t just face factory setup—they’ll confront unions, subsidies, data scrutiny, supply chain challenges, and political risks. These costs must be calculated well in advance.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876097074825289/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.