President Donald Trump greets Chinese Vice President Han Zheng as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang look on at Beijing Capital International Airport on May 13, 2026.
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The U.S. auto industry wants President Donald Trump to maintain policies that make it difficult or outright ban Chinese automakers from operating in the United States.
In a letter to Mr. Trump viewed by CNBC on Thursday, groups representing key aspects of the U.S. auto industry, from franchised dealers and suppliers to domestic and foreign automakers, called on the president to “maintain a closed-door policy to Chinese automakers seeking to sell, import, or manufacture vehicles in the United States.”
“The auto sector is the foundation of our nation’s advanced manufacturing and defense infrastructure, with the capabilities and workforce to respond to national emergencies. Once that foundation is hollowed out, it cannot be rebuilt overnight,” the letter said.
The letter comes ahead of President Trump’s planned visit to Washington next week with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and ahead of Trump saying last week that he would allow Chinese automakers to move manufacturing to the United States.
President Trump said on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” on September 11: “If China wants to come in and open a factory here to make cars, I would go for it.”
The letter argues that allowing Chinese automakers to manufacture in the United States would “undermine fair competition and jeopardize the progress” the administration has made to prevent “China’s dominance of key industries.” Chinese automakers receive heavy government subsidies and are rapidly expanding outside China to other countries.
The letter is the latest in a series of messages from the auto industry to the Trump administration, but this time it represents a more unified coalition.
The agreement was signed by leaders of six industry associations representing all major automakers operating in the United States. tesla In addition to foreign automakers, this includes approximately 17,000 domestic franchise dealers.
