Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, May 7: More than 50 Republican lawmakers have called on the administration of US President Donald Trump to prevent Chinese automotive and battery manufacturers from establishing production facilities in the United States, citing concerns over national security, American jobs, and control of critical supply chains.

In a joint letter spearheaded by Representatives Mike Kelly and Gus Bilirakis, the lawmakers urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to reject any proposal that would allow Chinese companies to manufacture vehicles or batteries in the US or broader North American market.

The appeal comes ahead of a likely meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on trade relations between the two countries.

In their letter, the lawmakers argued that China’s global expansion in the automotive sector is driven not by fair competition but by strategic efforts to dominate critical industries through state-backed support and market manipulation.
They highlighted the importance of the US automotive industry, noting that it contributes more than five per cent to the country’s GDP and supports millions of manufacturing jobs nationwide.

The lawmakers warned that heavily subsidised Chinese firms could undermine American manufacturers by using unfair trade practices and below-market pricing to gain control over global automotive supply chains.

According to the letter, allowing Chinese companies to build and sell vehicles and batteries in the US could weaken domestic manufacturing, reduce the global competitiveness of American automakers, and expose consumers to cybersecurity and surveillance risks.

The lawmakers also raised concerns about connected vehicle technologies, arguing that Chinese-made vehicles could potentially collect sensitive data from American citizens and infrastructure systems. They warned that advanced digital systems embedded in modern vehicles could theoretically allow remote access or interference by foreign actors.

The group urged the administration to preserve existing restrictions on Chinese automotive imports, including Commerce Department rules on connected vehicles and Section 301 tariffs imposed on Chinese electric vehicles.

The issue was also linked to the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The lawmakers claimed that Chinese state-owned enterprises are attempting to use North American trade structures as a pathway to bypass US trade restrictions and economic security safeguards.

They argued that introducing a stronger foreign investment screening mechanism would help protect the integrity of the agreement and prevent further erosion of the American manufacturing sector.

The letter was signed by Republican lawmakers from key industrial and automotive states including Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Florida.

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have significantly expanded their global presence in recent years through aggressive overseas investment and strong government subsidies, prompting growing scrutiny from both the United States and European governments over supply chain security, battery production, semiconductors, and connected vehicle technologies.