Trump teases ‘big news’ for American auto workers

President Donald Trump said Wednesday morning that “big news” is ahead for American auto workers.

“There will be big news coming soon for our great American Autoworkers,” he tweeted. “After many decades of losing your jobs to other countries, you have waited long enough!”

The White House did not clarify what the “big news” would be, but it would be on top of China reducing tariffs on American autos entering its market and a new forecast out Wednesday that expects auto sales to increase in May.

It could be another foreign manufacturer bring a plant to the United States or a domestic car maker bringing more production home.

Trump’s “America First” agenda includes tax incentives for manufacturers to build their products in the U.S. using American labor.

During a May 11 roundtable on car manufacturing, the president told CEO’s of automakers that wants to see the “manufacturing of millions of more cars within the United States, for Michigan, for Ohio, for Pennsylvania” and states like South Carolina and North Carolina.

“We’re working on how to build more cars in the United States,” Trump told the CEO’s. “We’re importing a lot of cars, and we want a lot of those cars to be made in the United States.”

He also said of Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne that “right now he’s my favorite man in the room” because Marchionne is moving a factory from Mexico to the United States.

“In fact, right now, he’s my favorite man in the room,” the president quipped. “And I’ll tell you, the people in Michigan very much appreciate it.  It’s a big deal.  Leaving Mexico; going to Michigan.  That was very well received.  I appreciate it.  Thank you.”

The U.S. is currently in negotiations with Mexico and Canada to redefine NAFTA, a deal the president has repeatedly said is unfair to American manufacturers and workers.

“NAFTA has been a terrible deal,” Trump said at the roundtable.  “We’re renegotiating it now.  We’ll see what happens.  Mexico and Canada have — look, they don’t like to lose the golden goose, but I’m representing the United States.  I’m not representing Mexico, and I’m not representing Canada.”