US President Donald Trump has said he would accept Chinese carmakers building vehicles in the United States, provided their factories create jobs for Americans.
“If China wanted to come in and open a plant to build their cars here, I’d be okay with that,” Trump said during an interview on Fox News programme “The Ingraham Angle”.
Trump compared the idea with Japanese carmakers operating factories in the US, saying the important point was that they employed American workers.
He drew a line, however, at Chinese companies manufacturing cars in Mexico and shipping them across the border into the US.
The remarks come as Chinese carmakers remain heavily restricted from the American market. US Commerce Department rules taking effect from the 2027 model year prohibit China-linked manufacturers from selling certain connected passenger vehicles in the country, including vehicles built in the US.
American carmakers and lawmakers have also resisted opening the market to Chinese brands. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, whose members include Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen and Hyundai, has urged Congress to make restrictions on Chinese vehicles permanent.
Trump’s comments indicated he could distinguish between Chinese imports and Chinese-owned factories employing US workers.
