House Democrats Tour GM Plant, Criticize Trump Trade Policies
Democratic House members toured GM’s Romulus plant Saturday, seeking worker input on manufacturing policies while criticizing Trump’s China trade approach.
ROMULUS, MICHIGAN — Democratic members of the U.S. House visited the General Motors Romulus Propulsion Systems facility Saturday to gather input from workers and union members on manufacturing policies, while criticizing President Donald Trump’s trade approach with China.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California), ranking member of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, led the plant tour alongside U.S. Reps. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) and Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor). Stevens serves as a member of the Select Committee.
“We’re really here to learn what policies we should have to be tough with China’s dumping, to make sure that we’re supporting the electric vehicle industry, to make sure that we’re supporting the battery industry, and see what we can learn for the China committee,” Khanna said. “So your insights on any of the trade issues with China would be very helpful.”
Heartland Tour Focuses on Manufacturing
The Romulus visit marked part of Khanna’s “Heartland Tour” through Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan with other committee members. The tour included stops at a steel manufacturing plant, an automotive glassmaker, and an electric vehicle battery cell manufacturer, as well as a visit to UAW Local 600 chapter in Dearborn.
During the facility tour, the representatives spoke with GM staff and UAW Vice President Mike Booth about challenges facing American manufacturing and competition with Chinese production. The lawmakers sought specific policy recommendations from workers on the front lines of automotive manufacturing.
Trade Policy Discussions Continue
Stevens highlighted the significance of the visit, though the source material does not provide complete details of her remarks. The timing comes as trade policy remains a contentious issue between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration.
The General Motors Romulus Propulsion Systems plant represents a key facility in Michigan’s automotive manufacturing sector. The Democratic representatives used the visit to engage directly with workers about how federal policies could better support domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Khanna emphasized the committee’s focus on addressing what he characterized as unfair trade practices, particularly regarding electric vehicle and battery manufacturing sectors that are key to Michigan’s economic future.
