US auto industry urges Trump to keep out Chinese automakers — CNBC
In the United States, automotive industry representatives and lawmakers urged President Donald Trump to maintain restrictions on Chinese automakers ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. As CNBC Top News reports, earlier this month Trump said he could agree to Chinese companies entering the US market if they manufactured cars directly in the United States.
Industry and lawmakers’ position
Following this statement, a coalition of industry associations representing automakers, dealers, and suppliers urged the president to reconsider his position. More than two dozen Democratic lawmakers also sent Trump a letter asking him not to lift the existing restrictions on Chinese car manufacturers.
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin said the issue is not partisan and concerns preserving automobile manufacturing in the United States. At the same time, bipartisan bills are advancing in Congress that would ban Chinese automakers from the US market.
China’s export expansion
Chinese cars are actively expanding their presence outside the domestic market, particularly in Europe, Central America, and South America. Industry representatives fear that companies such as BYD and Geely, which market participants estimate receive substantial state subsidies, could increase shipments and intensify pressure on local manufacturing and car prices.
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According to GlobalData, the global share of Chinese brands grew by nearly 70% in 2020–2025. According to an estimate by German company Dataforce, the share of Chinese automakers in the European Union market, which was nearly zero in 2020, reached 12% in August.
Expected meeting with Xi Jinping
Trump is to host Xi Jinping and the Chinese delegation on Thursday and Friday. Reports indicate that the delegation may include BYD founder Wang Chuanfu and CATL founder Robin Zeng. Reuters also reported that General Motors CEO Mary Barra and Tesla CEO Elon Musk are expected at the state dinner for Xi Jinping.
Nissan Motor’s chairman for the Americas, Christian Meunier, called competition with Chinese automakers outside the United States a difficult challenge. According to him, the Japanese company is seeking to reduce costs and improve efficiency by expanding the scale of its operations in the global market.
