Kelly leads 50+ Members in letter encouraging Trump administration to protect U.S. manufacturers from Chinese automotive, battery companies

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) led this letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer, encouraging the Trump administration to refrain from any decision that would allow Chinese automotive and battery companies access to manufacture in the United States.

The automotive industry is a foundational piece of the U.S. economy, contributing upwards of 5% of U.S. GDP and generating millions of manufacturing jobs across the country. Recently, Chinese automotive companies have accelerated investment in North America and flooded global markets with the long-term goal of dominating market share and controlling automotive manufacturing and supply chains globally. Further, Chinese automakers are heavily subsidized by the Chinese government, creating an unlevel playing field for American automakers.

"We must be clear-eyed about China's goals in expanding their automotive footprint across the globe. China's intent is not fair competition, as evident by their actions in other critical sectors," the Members write. "They have drastically inflated supply in their domestic auto market through unfair government subsidies and other benefits intended to artificially prop up companies, forcing them to export and expand to foreign markets at below-market prices. China's goal is not to compete in the U.S. automotive market, but instead to hollow it out and ultimately limit consumer choice to Chinese brands. Allowing Chinese automotive and battery companies to manufacture in the U.S. would jeopardize our national security."

Members joining Reps. Kelly and Bilirakis on the letter include:

• Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV), Michael Rulli (R-OH), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Nichole Malliotakis (R-NY), Nicholas A. Langworthy (R-NY), Neal P. Dunn, M.D. (R-FL), Robert E. Latta (R-OH), John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Keith Self (R-TX), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D., Kat Cammack (R-FL), Ron Estes (R-KS), Andy Barr (R-KY), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Lance Gooden (R-TX), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Craig Goldman (R-TX), Randy Weber (R-TX), Tom Barrett (R-MI), Erin Houchin (R-IN), Earl J. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Rick Allen (R-GA), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Blake Moore (R-UT), Max Miller (R-OH), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Mike Carey (R-OH), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Rudy Yakym III (R-IN), Harold Rogers (R-KY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Gabe Evans (R-CO), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), Mark Messmer (R-IN), Russ Fulcher (R-ID).

You can read their full letter here.