Bangladesh, Sept. 18 -- President Donald Trump's recent comments about Chinese automakers building vehicles inside the United States have prompted questions about whether his administration is shifting its approach toward China's growing presence in the American auto industry.

In a September 11 interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump said he would be open to Chinese companies establishing automobile manufacturing plants in the United States, provided they employ American workers. "If China wanted to come in and open a plant to build their cars here, I'd be okay with that," Trump said. He immediately emphasized the importance of domestic employment, pointing to Japanese automakers as an example of foreign companies manufacturi...