Bush sees ‘tough choices’ for U.S. automakers

WASHINGTON — President Bush told Detroit-based auto industry leaders on Tuesday he recognized they had “tough choices” to make their companies competitive in a difficult global environment and promised a “continuing dialogue” between government and industry.

Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and other administration officials met in the Oval Office for just over an hour with top executives of Ford, General Motor and DaimlerChrsyler AG’s Chrysler Group.

The automakers later told reporters they’d had a good meeting with the president. “The president clearly understands the importance of the business to the United States and the global economy,” said Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Alan Mulally.

The auto executives said they pressed their concerns about health care and trade issues, while making clear that the troubled industry does not want a federal bailout.

“We found a lot in common,” said Bush, who met with the leaders just hours before he leaves on a trip to Asia and an meeting in Vietnam with Asia-Pacific economic partners. The message he will give those partners, Bush said, is “just treat us like we treat you… Our markets are open for your products and we expect your markets to be open for ours, including our automobiles.”

“These leaders are making difficult decisions, tough choices to make sure that their companies are competitive in a global economy. And I’m confident that they’re making the right decisions,” Bush told reporters. He took no questions from reporters.

However the auto executives met with reporters outside the White House after their meeting.

GM chairman and CEO Richard Wagoner said, “It was a very good dialogue, very open back and forth.”

Bush cited a “mutual desire to reduce our dependance on imported oil.”