Washington, D.C-  Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) led 17 other House Ways and Means Committee Members and over 140 bipartisan Members of Congress in a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross advising against imposing trade restrictions on imports of autos and auto parts through its investigation under Section 232.

Rep. Walorski and the lawmakers wrote to Secretary Ross:

“We support the Department of Commerce as it seeks a level playing field for our manufacturers and workers in the global marketplace and penalizes bad actors. We believe, however, that the taxpayer dollars being used by the Commerce Department for this investigation would be better spent on other endeavors. We do not believe that imports of automobiles and automotive parts pose a national security threat. Rather, we believe the imposition of trade restrictions on these products could undermine our economic security.”

Ways and Means Members joining Rep. Walorski include: Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA), Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI), Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), and Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA).

The full letter may be found below.

Dear Secretary Ross:

We support your efforts to ensure a fair and level playing field with our trading partners, and we agree with you that the manufacturing base, particularly the automotive and automotive supplier industry, is important to the economic security of the United States. However, we are concerned that the recently announced Section 232 national security investigation into imports of automobiles and automotive parts could have a significant negative impact on the economic security of our country.

Our nation’s automotive industry is a critical driver of the American economy, historically contributing between 3.0-3.5% of our total GDP. It depends on a vast and complex network of suppliers to build vehicles, a large dealer network to sell them, and a substantial retail and aftermarket industry to supply repair and replacement parts – establishing facilities and creating jobs in every state.  The industry has rebounded from the depths of the Great Recession, and in some parts of the industry, employment is actually higher than pre-recession levels. However, imposing tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions on automobiles and/or automotive parts threatens to undo that momentum.

We urge you to keep the following factors at the top of your mind as you conduct your investigation and develop recommendations:

Quality, high-paying jobs are at stake in every state that span the industry: suppliers, dealers, and automakers; research and development, design, and manufacturing; installation and maintenance;

Innovative, advanced technology work, including research and development and manufacturing of high-value, highly technical components, is conducted here in the U.S.;

Close trading partners, many of which are our allies and valuable export markets for vehicles and parts manufactured in the U.S., are planning retaliation against our vulnerable industries;

Suppliers, automakers, and dealers have planned considerable investments in innovation, expansion, workforce training, and job growth;

The industry is facing price increases and supply challenges due to other trade actions;

Price increases from tariffs, quotas, and other trade restrictions will ultimately be borne by American families in the form of higher vehicle prices, delayed purchases, and foregone vehicle maintenance, among others; and

Unintended consequences will hurt other industries that rely on products that could be subject to trade restrictions, including used automobiles, heavy-duty vehicles, military vehicles, RVs, heavy machines and construction equipment, vintage and antique automobiles, and other vehicles.

We support the Department of Commerce as it seeks a level playing field for our manufacturers and workers in the global marketplace and penalizes bad actors. We believe, however, that the taxpayer dollars being used by the Commerce Department for this investigation would be better spent on other endeavors. We do not believe that imports of automobiles and automotive parts pose a national security threat. Rather, we believe the imposition of trade restrictions on these products could undermine our economic security.

Sincerely,

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