President Donald Trump is being urged to slam the brakes on Chinese cars entering the United States, with senior politicians warning the move could pose a serious national security risk and wipe out American jobs.
A group of senators has called on the President to block Chinese automakers from building, selling or even operating vehicles on United States soil.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, along with fellow Democrat Senators Tammy Baldwin and Elissa Slotkin, wrote to Trump following his comments at the Detroit Economic Forum earlier this year, where he said: “Let China come in”.
In their letter, the Senators urged the Trump administration to take decisive action, including banning Chinese automakers from operating in the United States and stopping vehicles built in countries like Canada and Mexico from entering the market.
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“Allowing automakers headquartered in China, which operate with backing from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to build and sell vehicles in the United States would have far-reaching consequences for our economic and national security,” the Senators wrote.
While Chinese cars are not outright banned in the US, strict rules already in place have effectively locked them out of the market.
Last year, US authorities introduced sweeping restrictions targeting “connected vehicles”, limiting the use of Chinese software and hardware.
President Donald Trump also imposed strict tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles. These measures have made it impossible for Chinese brands to sell in the US.
But the Senators are asking Trump to expand those restrictions, including blocking Chinese automakers from building vehicles in North America and to restrict partnerships with US automakers.
The Senators stressed that the risks extend beyond mere competition, they highlight that the US auto industry is vital to the economy, supporting almost 11 million jobs and contributing up to five per cent of the country’s GDP.
They also cited concerns relating to Chinese brands, many of which are backed by the Chinese Communist Party, could undercut local manufacturers through heavy state subsidies and cheaper labour.
The Senators also warned that modern vehicles are no longer just cars, but rolling connected technology capable of collecting large amounts of data.
“The ICTS Connected Vehicle rule appropriately recognised that modern vehicles contain technology that can connect with systems outside of the vehicle itself, sending information about our infrastructure and built environment to external entities,” the letter states.
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There have been ongoing conversations and concerns about Chinese-built vehicles gathering sensitive data if driven near military bases, government buildings or critical infrastructure.
There are also broader geopolitical concerns with Senators pointing to China’s “military-civil fusion” strategy, where private industry and military development are closely linked.
They claim revenue from Chinese automotive companies could feed into military capability, creating long-term risks for the US.
Chinese electric vehicle automakers have been rapidly expanding their presence across the globe, including North America.
Experts are now concerned that the existing trade agreement could allow vehicles built in neighbouring countries to enter the US market more easily.
While restrictions exist on certain connected vehicle technologies, the Senators are calling for those rules to be tightened.
“The United States must reaffirm our clear position – that Chinese vehicles of all types and automakers are not welcome to operate here in any capacity,” they wrote.
Any ban could be a significant hit to China’s massive car exports, which were valued at around $US142.4bn last year.
China exported around 8.32 millions cars overseas in 2025.
Australia imported around $5.13bn worth of Chinese cars last year, or around 253,000 vehicles, about 20 per cent of the new car market.
Chinese carmakers GWM, BYD and MG all cracked the top 10 for the top car brands in Australia in 2025.
Victorian Liberal Senator James Paterson, the Shadow Minister for Defence, has urged the Australian government to follow the US lead in increasing scrutiny on Chinese made cars imported into the country and has criticised the Albanese government’s reluctance to do so.
Former Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was another who had urged for a national security review of Chinese car imports.
