Democrats worry Trump may make auto industry concessions to Xi
The president has floated the possibility of allowing Chinese carmakers to build vehicles in the US.
Democratic lawmakers are apprehensive that President Donald Trump might negotiate auto industry deals with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming days, particularly following the president's suggestion of permitting Chinese automakers to manufacture cars in the United States. Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, expressed her concerns, emphasizing her desire to safeguard domestic auto manufacturing, employment, and workers.
She joined a group of approximately two dozen Democratic lawmakers who recently urged Trump to prohibit Chinese firms from entering the US for both national security and economic considerations. While Republican lawmakers are hesitant to directly criticize Trump, they too have voiced opposition to foreign manufacturers operating within the US.
Rep. Tom Barrett, a Republican from Michigan, stated that he disagrees with the idea of constructing or collaborating with Chinese manufacturers to produce vehicles domestically. The Rust Belt states and their extensive automotive manufacturing infrastructure could potentially sway the outcomes of the midterms, and there exists political jeopardy for Trump and Republicans regarding the matter of Chinese automobiles.
Bloomberg Economics' Adam Farrar cautioned, "Autos are an incredibly politically dangerous area to navigate right before the midterms."
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