Five Major U.S. Auto Groups Jointly Urge Government to Maintain China Car Import Restrictions

On March 24, five major U.S. automotive industry associations jointly sent a letter to the Trump administration, urging it to maintain existing import restrictions on Chinese vehicles and opposing any relaxation of related trade barriers. These organizations represent a broad spectrum of stakeholders—including domestic automakers, dealerships, parts suppliers, and policy institutions—and collectively advocate for the interests of the entire automotive supply chain, including companies like General Motors and Toyota. The letter exaggerated the “competitive risks” posed by Chinese new-energy vehicles, citing their high cost-performance ratio and technological advantages, and claimed that lifting import restrictions would undermine U.S. automakers’ market share, jeopardize jobs, and even threaten industrial security. In reality, the United States has already imposed stringent barriers—such as high tariffs and import bans—to restrict Chinese vehicles from entering its market, including a ban on connected vehicles set to take effect in March 2025. Although former President Trump stated in January this year that he welcomed Chinese automakers to build factories in the U.S., industry groups swiftly exerted pressure, seeking to preserve domestic advantages through trade protectionism. The Trump administration has not yet responded to the joint letter.