President Donald Trump announced plans to eliminate auto industry regulations that he believes keep Americans from jobs at the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti Wednesday morning. Hundreds of auto workers and executives were in attendance, according to a Free Press article.
“Buy American and hire American,” Trump said. “It’s not just a motto, it’s a pledge. The era of economic surrender for the United States is over.”
Along with talks of deregulation, Trump also mentioned his campaign pledge to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Trump announced the Environmental Protection Agency will be continuing a mid-term greenhouse-gas emissions review. The announcement was met with excitement from the auto workers who are hoping the review will roll back current restrictions and allow U.S. auto companies to compete internationally.
“It was necessary (to resume the review) because the standards were set far into the future,” Trump said. “If the standards threaten auto jobs, then common sense changes could have — and should have — been made.”
The EPA has come under controversy in recent weeks with new administrator Scott Pruitt appointing staff members with long histories of denying climate change such as Senator James Inhofe (R–Okla.). Trump’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, according to the New York Times, seeks to slash EPA funding by $2.6 billion, or 31 percent.
Opponents of Trump’s environmental policy claim current regulations in place are reachable by auto companies and will in turn help the environment.
Before his public statements, Trump met with 13 auto manufacturing heads, unions and suppliers.
Gov. Rick Snyder was in attendance and, according to an MLive article, is hopeful for the future national economy after Trump’s deregulation.
“Let’s move forward, let’s build bridges and let’s make a stronger economy in our country,” Snyder said.
The Michigan Daily was not issued press credentials to cover the event, as officials did not respond to requests.