U.S. automotive industry groups have urged Trump to continue excluding Chinese automakers from the U.S. market ahead of next week's U.S.-China summit. The groups warn that allowing Chinese companies to enter the market would harm the national interest.
The American Automotive Trade Policy Council (AAPC), Auto Drive America (ADA) and other U.S. automotive industry groups sent a letter to President Donald Trump calling for the continued exclusion of Chinese automakers from the U.S. market. Several major industry groups expressed their views jointly.
In the letter, the groups said the door should remain firmly closed to moves to promote the sale, import and manufacture of Chinese vehicles ahead of the U.S.-China summit. While expressing gratitude for Trump's dedicated efforts, they also stressed that the exclusion policy should continue.
The move contrasts with remarks Trump made in an earlier interview, when he suggested that he might accept Chinese companies if they created jobs and opened factories in the United States. The reports have drawn attention to the continuity of the administration's policy.
The industry groups welcomed the status quo of maintaining prohibitive tariffs on imports of Chinese vehicles, while reiterating their view that allowing Chinese companies to enter the U.S. market would harm the national interest. They also pointed out that even if Chinese companies produced vehicles in the United States, reliance on Chinese parts sourcing and supply chains would not be eliminated.