On September 12, 2026, according to a Reuters report, U.S. President Trump shared his views on the issue of Chinese automakers entering the U.S. market during an interview with Fox News. Despite the prevailing opposition and defensive stance held by U.S. lawmakers and major domestic automakers toward the Chinese automotive industry, Trump explicitly stated that he is open to the idea if Chinese companies are willing to establish manufacturing plants on U.S. soil. This position not only suggests a potential shift in U.S.-China trade policy but also impacts the strategic layout of the global automotive supply chain.

In the interview, Trump emphasized the importance of "localized production," using the historical experience of the Japanese automotive industry in the United States as a comparison. He pointed out that when Japanese automakers entered the U.S. market, they chose to build local plants and hire a large number of American workers; this model created jobs for the U.S., and therefore, he does not oppose Chinese automakers operating under a similar framework. Trump emphasized: "The most important thing is that they must hire our workers." This remark has been interpreted by outsiders to mean that if the Trump administration adopts relevant policies in the future, it may view "job creation" as a core metric for foreign automaker market access, rather than relying solely on trade bans.

There are still variables regarding the information on this issue, primarily due to the gap between Trump's personal stance and the existing positions held by the U.S. Congress and automotive industry unions. Although Trump has expressed a conditional openness, there remain significant concerns within the U.S. automotive industry regarding the security of Chinese electric vehicle technology and its supply chain, data privacy, and fair market competition. It is currently unclear how Trump would handle resistance from Congress if he were to formally push for such policies, or how he would define the specific legal regulations and regulatory details of "following the Japanese model." These details await further clarification in subsequent White House policy documents.

If this policy intention is implemented, it will have a profound impact on the global automotive supply chain. For Chinese electric vehicle giants such as BYD, this could provide a potential path into the North American market, though it would also mean bearing high local construction and labor costs. For the U.S. automotive industry, this could trigger a reshuffling of the industrial structure; on one hand, it may introduce competitive pressure, while on the other, if foreign investment in manufacturing is successfully attracted, it could help strengthen U.S. domestic manufacturing capabilities. Furthermore, this move could prompt international trade partners to re-examine market access fairness, particularly regarding regulations related to electric vehicle subsidies and technology transfers.

However, there are varying interpretations of Trump's remarks. Some observers believe this is merely a bargaining chip proposed by Trump during election campaigns or policy debates based on the "America First" principle, and it should not be over-interpreted as an imminent, comprehensive opening to Chinese automakers. Additionally, automotive industry experts warn that even if Chinese automakers are willing to build plants in the U.S., they would still face extremely strict regulatory scrutiny, including requirements for supply chain transparency and potential national security assessments. These technical restrictions cannot be easily overcome by a single statement from the President. Therefore, industry analysts suggest that all parties should continue to monitor subsequent administrative actions by the U.S. Department of Commerce and relevant regulatory agencies, rather than making investment decisions based solely on the content of public interviews.

Future observation will focus on several key aspects: first, the U.S. Congress's reaction to this issue, particularly whether it will trigger stricter national security review mechanisms for Chinese automakers building plants in the U.S.; second, the substantive response from Chinese automakers regarding such conditions, specifically whether they are willing to sacrifice some supply chain advantages in exchange for U.S. market access; and finally, whether the U.S. government will establish specific regulatory standards for the labor hiring ratios and the degree of technology localization for foreign automakers. These developments will determine whether this policy intention remains merely a verbal statement or becomes a new normal for U.S.-China automotive trade and industrial cooperation.