WASHINGTON — The Trump administration broke off vehicle mileage standards talks with California on Thursday, moving the two closer to a possible court battle that threatens to unsettle the auto industry.
The White House said in a statement that the administration, which wants to freeze mileage standards, would now move unilaterally to "finalize a rule later this year with the goal of promoting safer, cleaner, and more affordable vehicles."
California officials and the Trump administration each accused the other of failing to present any good compromise proposal in the mileage dispute, which comes as President Trump feuds with the Democrat-led state over his proposed border wall and his threats to take back federal money.
The administration announced last year it wanted to freeze what would have been tougher, Obama-era mileage standards for cars and light trucks. It would be one of a series of rollbacks targeting Obama administration efforts against pollution and climate change.
Under the administration proposal, the standards would be frozen after slightly tougher 2020 levels go into effect, eliminating 10 miles per gallon of improvement to a fleet average of 36 miles per gallon in 2025.