Ford Chairman: Trump Tells US CEOs Tax, Regulations Cuts Coming Soon

Meeting with three of the biggest United States carmakers on Tuesday, president Donald Trump confirmed plans to cut pollution regulations for the industry. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called on President Trump to follow through on his campaign promise to invest in infrastructure and back their proposal. Ford will still move production of Focus small cars to Mexico but will cut total production of the cars by consolidating their assembly in an existing Mexican plant. Numerous plans were promised in 2015 labor deals with the United Auto Workers union. “And you’re never going to be able to meet that on a one-to-one basis”.

The President has shown extra-ordinary interest and has intervened in corporate affairs in uncommon manners ever since he took the control of the helm, and this soon-to-be interaction with the CEOs of the afore-mentioned automakers is the latest sign. Only a portion of Tuesday’s gathering was open to the news media.

The revised WhiteHouse.gov website claims federal regulations cost the American economy more than $2 trillion in 2015 alone. The Environmental Protection Agency upheld them in a review concluded two weeks ago. The fuel economy standards, in particular, help to save consumers money at the gas pump and reduce the country’s dependence on oil, he said. “Right now they [rules] are all on the table”.

“The US needs a strong push to build factories in the country”, Trump told the CEOs, vowing to cut regulations and taxes.

All three manufacturers have announced major US investment that will improve their facilities and increase jobs.

At his first full press briefing today, new White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer made note of Trump’s plans to hold a breakfast meeting with representatives of Fiat Chrysler, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors.

Also attending was Reince Priebus, White House chief of staff, Steve Bannon, chief strategist and senior counselor to the president, Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to the president on policy, Jared Kushner, another senior adviser, Josh Pitcock, chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, and former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt. “I think you’re going to see it go from inhospitable to extremely hospitable”, he said. All good people. But where were representatives of Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai and Kia, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, all of which have made massive investments to build vehicles in the U.S. On Monday, Trump announced a hiring freeze, drawing the ire of union leaders.

Trump did not meet with executives from foreign brand automakers that also build cars in the US, although several have announced recent plant expansions. “Make in US or pay big border tax!”

While automakers are adding U.S.jobs, they are also cutting USA production of small cars.