Donald Trump Wants To See Chinese Cars In America

During his US presidential campaign, Donald Trump declared openness to allowing Chinese vehicles in the country—as long as they’re locally made. The proclamation was made during his speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week. Former President Trump also expressed his disappointment in Chinese car companies building their plants in Mexico instead of the US, Automotive News reports.

“Right now as we speak, large factories just are being built across the border in Mexico” by China to make cars to sell in the US,” Trump said. “Those plants are going to be built in the United States and our people are going to man those plants.”

It’s the UAW’s Fault

Trump further expressed his disdain for UAW President Shawn Fain regarding the Chinese car factory being built across the southern border, saying that Fain should “be ashamed for allowing this to happen” and that he “should be fired immediately.”

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While no specific Chinese automaker was mentioned in Trump’s address, we’d be remiss not to remember that BYD started building a manufacturing plant in Mexico after an announcement earlier this year. This led to speculations that the world’s top seller of new energy vehicles – EVs, including PHEVs – was inching closer to selling cars in the US. However, BYD refuted the reports, saying it won’t happen for some time. BYD has revealed the Shark plug-in hybrid truck for the Mexican market, rivaling the Ford Ranger in the midsize pickup category.

As Long As They’re Made In America

While Trump is open to Chinese vehicles on US soil as long as they’re made in America, he shares a similar approach to President Biden regarding Chinese vehicles being imported into the country. In the same address, Trump said he would slap high tariffs – as high as 200% – to prevent Chinese cars from entering the country, twice the current taxes recently imposed by the Biden administration.

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Apart from sharing his views on Chinese vehicles, Trump also proclaimed in the same rally that he would remove Biden’s “EV mandate” on his first day if he wins the upcoming election. The Biden administration doesn’t have a specific mandate. However, it’s important to point out that the Environmental Protection Agency’s new tailpipe emission standards leave automakers with no choice but to head towards the electrification route.

Source:
Automotive News