, Columnist
Trump Has a Giant Wrench for China’s Auto Gears
Car parts is a multibillion-dollar export business that’s vulnerable to U.S. tariffs.
A juicy target, but not without costs.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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To understand the untapped potential – as well as the dangers – of Donald Trump’s trade war with China, look at auto parts.
It’s a huge business, worth almost $400 billion globally. China exports more than $70 billion of car parts and accessories every year, about a fifth of which goes to the U.S. Hundreds of Chinese components, from door handles to steering systems, are embedded throughout American-made cars.