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.
Encourage the Trump administration to refrain from any decision that would allow Chinese automotive and battery companies to manufacture in the United States.
Occurrences
Kelly also noted areas of concern, particularly the acceleration of Chinese investment into North America in the automotive industry.
Evidence
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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.
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The letter argues that Chinese automakers are seeking to establish vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the United States or the broader North American market and urges administration officials to protect U.S. manufacturers ahead of the USMCA review.
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Kelly also noted areas of concern, particularly the acceleration of Chinese investment into North America in the automotive industry.
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USTR's July 1, 2026 autos report says Chinese or other Asian content in Mexican automotive exports is increasing, frames the USMCA review as an opportunity to mitigate non-market-economy third-party risks, and says USTR intends to examine automotive rules of origin for stronger rules. It does not announce a final ban or completed restriction on Chinese automotive or battery companies manufacturing in the United States.
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USTR announced that the United States did not agree to renew USMCA in its current form and that the agreement remains in force while the parties continue negotiations to address shortcomings.
Assessments
Kelly fulfilled the federal-office promise as phrased because the commitment was to encourage the Trump administration, not to personally enact or secure a final ban. In May 2026, during his current House term, he led a multi-member letter to Treasury, Commerce, and USTR officials urging the administration not to allow Chinese automotive and battery companies to manufacture in the United States. Later USTR activity shows the broader policy question remained unresolved, but the promised act of congressional advocacy was completed by Kelly in the same term.
The promise was to encourage the Trump administration not to permit Chinese automotive and battery companies to manufacture in the United States. Evidence shows Kelly materially acted on this promise by leading a 50-plus member letter to administration officials and publicly pressing the issue in a hearing. However, the record provided does not show a final administration decision adopting his requested policy or any implemented restriction attributable to this effort. Because there is clear action but no confirmed policy outcome yet, the best judgment is unresolved rather than delivered or never.