Overview
- Bipartisan senators Elissa Slotkin and Bernie Moreno this week moved to win unanimous consent in the Senate to make the ban permanent and to stop the White House from issuing waivers to Chinese-connected automakers.
- The measure is reported to have roughly 51 Senate backers and a House companion with more than 100 cosponsors, giving the effort significant momentum but leaving it vulnerable to a single senator’s objection under the fast-track procedure.
- The push responds to President Trump’s recent comments that he would accept Chinese companies building cars in the United States, a stance that alarmed automakers and prompted trade groups to urge the White House to keep market access closed.
- Current policy already rests on a 2025 rule that blocks use of connected-vehicle hardware and software tied to China and on tariffs exceeding 100% for Chinese EVs, and lawmakers want the bill to bar waivers like the one previously granted to Volvo and prevent future carve-outs.
- Supporters say the ban protects national security, driver data privacy, and U.S. manufacturing jobs, while critics warn the plan could create complex ownership thresholds that affect some non-Chinese brands and complicate diplomacy with China.