Trump says he'd be open to China building cars in U.S.

President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to accept Chinese automakers building vehicles in the United States during an interview on Fox News. He stated, "If China wanted to come in and open a plant to build their cars here, I’d be okay with that." Trump emphasized that Japan allows similar operations, provided the companies hire American workers.

He further clarified that he does not wish to see Chinese automakers construct cars in Mexico and export them to the U.S. While he has no issue with Chinese-made automobiles, U.S. automakers have urged Trump to refrain from allowing Chinese manufacturers access to the domestic market. Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, warned that reports of Trump's potential approval of Chinese cars for sale in the U.S. could be a "total phony rumor."

Trump dismissed Slotkin's claim as false, asserting that he had prevented Chinese vehicles from entering the U.S. following a regulation imposed by the Biden administration. This regulation prohibits Chinese automakers from selling or manufacturing passenger vehicles in the United States. Additionally, the U.S. imposes tariffs exceeding 100% on Chinese electric vehicles.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a coalition of major automakers including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, and Volkswagen, has called for Congress to swiftly pass legislation indefinitely barring Chinese vehicles from the U.S. market by the end of December.