First Shift: Trump open to Chinese plants in U.S.

Former President Donald Trump has proposed easing restrictions on Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers operating in the U.S., suggesting they could produce EVs domestically using American labor while keeping the existing prohibition on importing Chinese-made vehicles intact. The shift signals a potential softening of trade tensions, though details on how such a policy would be implemented remain unclear. Meanwhile, Chinese automaker Park Min-woo’s company has indicated plans to expand its U.S. presence, though specific commitments have not yet been disclosed. The move could reshape the automotive industry’s approach to foreign investment amid ongoing debates over national security and economic competition.

Trump says he would allow Chinese automakers to build EVs in the U.S. with American workers but will maintain the ban on imported Chinese vehicles. Executive Park Min-woo says the automaker will ...