US automotive industry groups have urged Donald Trump to keep restrictions on Chinese automakers in place, and potentially bar them from selling, importing or manufacturing vehicles in the United States.
A letter to the president dated Thursday said the industry wanted policies that would “keep the door firmly shut to Chinese automakers seeking to sell, import or manufacture vehicles inside the US”.
The appeal comes ahead of Mr Trump’s expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington next week. It also follows the president’s comments last week that he would accept Chinese carmakers opening factories in the US.
“If China wanted to come in and open a plant to build their cars here, I’d be OK with it,” Mr Trump said on 11 September.
The industry groups argued that allowing Chinese manufacturers to establish US production would “undermine fair competition and jeopardize the progress” made by the administration in preventing Chinese dominance in key industries.
They also claimed Chinese automakers benefit heavily from government subsidies and are expanding rapidly beyond China into other markets.
“The automotive sector is foundational to our advanced manufacturing and defence base, with the capacity and workforce to respond during a national emergency,” the letter said. “Once that base is hollowed out, it can’t be rebuilt overnight.”
The letter was signed by leaders of six trade associations representing major parts of the US automotive industry, including domestic and foreign manufacturers, suppliers and franchised dealers.
The coalition represents every major automaker operating in the US, including Tesla, as well as the country’s roughly 17,000 franchised dealers. It marks the latest in a series of messages from the sector to the Trump administration, but brought together a broader group of industry bodies.
