The fate of the US auto sector hung in the balance on Wednesday as President George W. Bush faced growing resistance within the ranks of his own Republican party to a White House deal with Congressional Democrats to provide $14bn in emergency loans to Detroit carmakers.
The loan was approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday night by 237 votes to 170, but the bill faces particularly stiff opposition in the Senate, where an increasing number of Republicans – including the party’s leadership in the chamber – indicated their reservations about the measure.
