China may alter import allocations; Deal with US Big 3 could hit European and Asian carmakers.(News)(Brief Article)

Byline: Alysha Webb

China may limit the number of cars that Asian and European automakers here can import next year as the government tries to avoid a potential trade dispute with the United States.

The government recently gave the Big 3 US automakers licenses to import about 30,000 vehicles to China through 2005. Those imports could result in allocations being cut for Asian and European companies.

Ford, General Motors and the Chrysler group also will be permitted to distribute the cars here without having to go through a Chinese company.

European cars in demand

The move was widely seen as an effort to placate U.S. lawmakers angry …