Region
April 30, 2026
Coalition of steel groups urge China kept out of US auto mart
Written by Ethan Bernard
A broad coalition of steel groups has written a letter urging the US government not to allow China access to the domestic auto market.
“As the President prepares for his upcoming meeting with (Chinese leader) Xi Jinping, we write to underscore the strategic importance of the US automotive sector to the nation’s industrial base and economic security,” the letter states.
The letter urged the government “to ensure American competitiveness by not surrendering access to the US auto market to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).”
Signatories of the letter included the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), the United Steelworkers (USW) union, and the Alliance for American Manufacturing, among others.
It was addressed to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
The letter highlighted China’s unfair trade practices and how allowing the Asian nation access to the US auto market could present national security risks.
“We urge the administration to approach any automotive-related discussions with China through the lens of economic and national security, so that our future for critical industrial capabilities is not owned, controlled, or materially influenced by entities subject to the direction of the CCP,” the letter concludes.
Other signatories include the American Foundry Society (AFS), American Wire Producers Association (AWPA), Cold Finished Steel Bar Institute (CFSBI), Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union), and the Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA).
