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The United States Department of Commerce asked automobile manufacturers to disclose some of their best-kept secrets in the course of an investigation to determine whether on imported automobiles and components are necessary to safeguard national security.
The Bureau of Industry and Safety sent a 34-page questionnaire to several automakers this month.
"The breadth and depth of this application is invasive, as it requires huge amounts of private and confidential business data from global operations, all under the pretext of national security," she said. he declared. Gloria Bergquist, spokesperson for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents several automakers The survey was conducted.
The alliance represents a dozen car manufacturers, such as General Motors Co. Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG . "Frankly, it's impressive coming from an administration committed to putting the government out of business," Bergquist said.
The coverage of the survey indicates that beneficiaries are required by law to respond to the survey, and those who do not do so may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment. one year and a fine of US $ 10,000.
A departmental representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The questionnaire is part of an investigation started in May that seeks to determine whether auto imports are harming US national security
The investigation is being conducted using a trade law of the 1960s that was used very little and was used by President Donald Trump earlier this year to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
"There is evidence that, for decades, imports from abroad have undermined our domestic auto industry," said Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce, when he said announced the investigation.
"The Department of Commerce will conduct a thorough, fair and transparent investigation into whether these imports are weakening our economy."
Car manufacturers warned that the new tariffs would hurt their businesses by disrupting their supply chains. Supply and increasing costs for consumers.
Trade Expansion Act of 1962, Ross has until February to conclude the investigation and make recommendations to Trump , which has threatened to impose duties of up to 25 percent on imported automobiles.
HEARING IN WASHINGTON
The Commerce Department has scheduled a hearing on the investigation for July 19 at Washington, about 45 people, representing foreign and domestic companies, workers and others, will make statements.The hearing was originally scheduled to last two days, but the department Commerce announced Thursday that it would be limited to one day.
Dave Sullivan, an auto industry badyst at AutoPacific Inc., said the level of detail that he is looking for the government is "disturbing."
"The only time I've seen anything like this is when a supplier is not doing very well financially and the automaker is trying to understand its financial situation and its future." "They are completely undressing the automakers and the way they do their business at a worrying level."
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