US Automotive Industry Urges Trump to Reject Access for Chinese Cars

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The United States automotive industry is urging President Donald Trump en masse not to open access for Chinese car manufacturers to the domestic market. This call arises ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on 14-15 May 2026. Previously, Trump had expressed support if Chinese automotive producers wished to build factories in the US and employ local workers. That statement immediately sparked concerns. For years, vehicle producers in the Land of Uncle Sam have consistently pushed the government to tighten the entry of Chinese cars through high tariffs and vehicle data security regulations. According to Reuters on Tuesday (13/5/2026), vehicle manufacturers, component suppliers, the steel industry, labour unions, and members of Congress from both the Democratic and Republican parties are now reinforcing this rejection. They assess that Chinese car producers have substantial government support, massive production capacity, increasingly advanced electric vehicle technology, and selling prices far cheaper than other global brands. This situation is feared to disrupt the local automotive industry and weaken the US manufacturing base. “Don’t make a bad deal,” said Slotkin. She also supports a bipartisan bill with Republican Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio aimed at banning Chinese vehicles from circulating in the US due to their potential to collect user data. The bill, named the Connected Vehicle Security Act, would strengthen rules from the era of President Joe Biden that previously limited Chinese-origin vehicles from entering the US market. Rejection of Chinese vehicles also comes from various US automotive industry associations, from local car manufacturers, foreign brands, dealers, to spare parts suppliers. In an official letter to the US government last March, they stated that China’s ambition to dominate the global automotive industry poses a direct threat to the competitiveness of the industry, national security, and American automotive manufacturing.