US Auto Industry Urges Trump to Block Chinese Automakers Ahead of Xi Meeting

A broad coalition representing nearly all major automakers, suppliers, and dealers in the United States has urged President Donald Trump to block Chinese auto companies from entering the U.S. market. The joint letter, sent Friday, cites significant concerns over American jobs and national security and comes just ahead of the president's scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Industry Presents a United Front

Six influential trade groups co-signed the letter, including the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the American Automotive Policy Council, and the National Automobile Dealers Association. Their members include General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Stellantis, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Tesla.

The letter directly asks the administration to "maintain policies that keep the door firmly shut to Chinese automakers seeking to sell, import or manufacture vehicles inside the U.S." The appeal follows recent comments from President Trump on Fox News where he indicated he would be open to Chinese firms building cars in the country.

Economic and Competitive Concerns

The industry groups argue that allowing Chinese manufacturers to establish a U.S. presence would not create new American jobs. Instead, they claim it would "shift jobs away from manufacturers that have made generational investments in the U.S. and toward companies owned and operated by the Chinese government."

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The letter emphasizes that Chinese automakers currently have zero market share in the U.S. "Allowing them to open a domestic facility would provide a foothold in the U.S. market at the expense of manufacturers operating here," the groups stated.

Background on Existing Barriers

The U.S. already has significant barriers in place against Chinese vehicles. Washington currently maintains tariffs of more than 100% on electric vehicles imported from China.

Furthermore, a regulation implemented by the previous administration in early 2025 effectively banned Chinese passenger vehicles on national security grounds. That rule was based on concerns that connected-car technologies could be used to collect and transmit sensitive data on American drivers to Beijing. According to the report, the White House and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately comment on the letter.