Watch CNBC’s full interview with Sean Duffy, Jamieson Greer, and Lee Zeldin

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 16, 2026 at 17:09  |  13:05  |  CNBC
Speakers
Sean Duffy — Transportation Secretary
Lee Zeldin — EPA Administrator
Jamieson Greer — US Trade Representative

Summary

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin joined CNBC from a Ford plant in Ohio to discuss auto affordability, CAFE standards, EV mandates, tariffs, Chinese automakers, and vehicle safety rules. The officials argued that regulatory rollbacks and trade policy will lower vehicle costs, support American manufacturing, and protect U.S. auto jobs. They also warned that Chinese automakers face U.S. cybersecurity and tariff barriers, and that Canada’s Chinese EV deal could prove problematic.

  • Officials touted CAFE rollback and a $10,000 tax credit for American-made cars.
  • EPA is moving to repeal greenhouse-gas vehicle standards and end EV mandates.
  • USTR says trade policy supports U.S. vehicle production and higher manufacturing wages.
  • Chinese automakers face U.S. cybersecurity rules and tariffs.
  • Canada’s decision to allow Chinese EVs at lower tariffs was criticized by Greer.
  • Duffy discussed reviewing vehicle safety and autonomous-vehicle regulations.
  • Vehicle affordability, wages, and domestic manufacturing were central themes.
Ideas
Sean Duffy Transportation Secretary 1:09
CAFE rollback cuts auto compliance costs.
Duffy highlights the One Big Beautiful Bill’s $10,000 tax credit for buying a new American-made car, replacing the prior $7,500 EV credit. The credit lowers the effective price of American-made vehicles, supports new-car demand, and should also improve road safety by replacing older cars.
CARZ American-made vehicles HIGH
Sean Duffy Transportation Secretary 1:09
CAFE rollback cuts auto compliance costs.
Secretary Duffy says the administration is cutting CAFE standards from almost 60 mpg to about 35 mpg, which lowers automaker compliance costs and should deliver at least $1,000 of price relief for U.S. vehicle buyers. That supports U.S. auto demand and gas-powered vehicles.
gas-powered vehicles HIGH
Jamieson Greer US Trade Representative 3:07
Trade policy boosts U.S. auto output.
Greer says vehicle inflation is cooling and manufacturing wages are rising, while Trump’s trade policies encourage more vehicle production in Ohio and across America. He sees those trends helping Americans afford vehicles and supporting domestic auto manufacturing.
U.S. auto manufacturing MED
Lee Zeldin EPA Administrator 4:13
EPA rollback favors gas-powered vehicles.
Administrator Zeldin says EPA is finalizing repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding and greenhouse-gas standards for light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles, while ending the California EV mandate and start-stop off-cycle credit. He frames this as promoting consumer choice and affordability, a tailwind for gas-powered and heavy-duty vehicles and a headwind to policy-supported EV demand.
gas-powered vehicles heavy-duty vehicles HIGH
Lee Zeldin EPA Administrator 4:13
EPA rollback favors gas-powered vehicles.
Administrator Zeldin says EPA is finalizing repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding and greenhouse-gas standards for light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles, while ending the California EV mandate and start-stop off-cycle credit. He frames this as promoting consumer choice and affordability, a tailwind for gas-powered and heavy-duty vehicles and a headwind to policy-supported EV demand.
DRIV HIGH
Jamieson Greer US Trade Representative 9:56
Chinese automakers face U.S. barriers.
Greer argues Chinese automakers will struggle to operate in the U.S. because modern vehicles are software-heavy and must meet U.S. cybersecurity rules, while tariffs protect American auto workers. He sees Chinese, Japanese, and Korean automakers all wanting to build in the U.S. consumer market, favoring domestic production over Chinese imports.
Chinese automakers MED
Sean Duffy Transportation Secretary 12:08
Regulatory review may aid autonomous vehicles.
Duffy says NHTSA and DOT are reviewing legacy vehicle requirements as autonomous vehicles come online, questioning whether side mirrors, rear-view mirrors, and backup cameras are still needed. That regulatory review could reduce costs and ease deployment of autonomous vehicles.
Autonomous vehicles LOW
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This CNBC video, published January 16, 2026, features Sean Duffy, Jamieson Greer, Lee Zeldin discussing CARZ, American-made vehicles, gas-powered vehicles, U.S. auto manufacturing, heavy-duty vehicles, DRIV, Chinese automakers, Autonomous vehicles. 7 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Sean Duffy, Jamieson Greer, Lee Zeldin  · Tickers: CARZ, American-made vehicles, gas-powered vehicles, U.S. auto manufacturing, heavy-duty vehicles, DRIV, Chinese automakers, Autonomous vehicles