Senators Urge Trump to Bar Chinese Carmakers and Shut Cross-Border Entry

Overview

• Three Democratic senators sent a letter urging President Trump to block Chinese automakers from building vehicles in the United States and to stop Chinese-assembled cars from entering via Mexico or Canada.
• The senators argue Chinese state-backed automakers would undercut U.S. makers on cost and could gather sensitive data through connected car technology near military and critical sites.
• They also urge the administration to label BYD and other Chinese automakers as military-connected entities, a designation that brings stricter U.S. limits.
• The White House said it will not compromise national security to attract investment after Trump said in January he was open to Chinese plants because of potential U.S. jobs.
• Chinese passenger cars already face roughly 100% tariffs and 2025 rules that effectively bar them, while auto trade groups want restrictions kept and Sen. Bernie Moreno plans a bill to seal the market before a planned May Trump–Xi summit.