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American Automotive Policy Council
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia American Automotive Policy Council Headquarters	Washington, DC Membership	Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Company President	Matt Blunt Website	http://www.aapc.us/ The American Automotive Policy Council, also referred to as AAPC, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit trade association created by Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Company in 2009. Advocacy efforts are aimed at promoting the economic impacts of the American auto industry and free trade agreements with other countries. Former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt is the President of the AAPC, which is headquartered in Washington, DC.

Formation and history
The American Automotive Policy Council was formed in the fall of 2009 to represent the three main American auto manufacturers as a trade association focused on lobbying in favor of international free trade agreements. The group was originally lead by Stephen Collins. Deborah Dingell, Democratic party activist and wife of US Representative John Dingell and former co-chair of the General Motors Foundation, was brought on as an advisor to the group in 2009 as chair of the AAPC’s manufacturing initiative. In May, 2011, former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt was hired as President of the AAPC on account of his time working with the auto industry while governor and ties to Republican members of Congress. Former Clinton administration senior policy adviser Jim Doyle was also retained by the AAPC in 2011 to provide strategic counseling. After Blunt joined AAPC as president, the group increased its focus on domestic issues including federal legislations and automotive standards as well as promoting the economic impact of the American auto-manufacturing industry.

Legislative activities
The American Automotive Policy Council has been involved in lobbying efforts concerning international free trade agreements.[6] In late 2009, AAPC worked to allow American automobiles to be included in the Japanese government’s cash-for-clunkers program, which was agreed to in January of 2010. Later in 2010, the AAPC took part in a debate over the South Korean Free Trade Agreement and voiced criticism of South Korea’s trade practices concerning automobile imports. The AAPC has also been involved in lobbying efforts urging the U.S. Congress to address issues concerning claims of currency manipulation by the Japanese and Korean governments. The group became more involved in U.S. issues and promoting the economic impacts of the American auto industry in 2011, after Matt Blunt started as president. While fuel U.S. economy standards have been set through 2016, the development of new fuel economy standards that would be set through 2025 have been a topic of debate in Congress. In early 2011, the AAPC collaborated with lawmakers and regulators to represent the American auto industry in developing the new fuel economy standards.