Three Democratic senators—Tammy Baldwin, Elissa Slotkin, and Chuck Schumer—have urged former President Donald Trump to ban Chinese automakers from building vehicles in the U.S. and to prevent Chinese cars assembled in Mexico or Canada from entering the American market.

They argued that allowing Chinese automakers to operate domestically would create an insurmountable economic advantage for China.

The move follows Trump’s January comments welcoming Chinese automakers to build plants in the U.S., though high tariffs already limit Chinese vehicle imports.

The Biden administration imposed regulations in 2025 effectively banning Chinese passenger vehicles over national security concerns tied to data collection.

U.S. automakers and trade groups strongly support the ban, emphasising that any new Chinese plant would create only minimal jobs compared to potential long-term losses.

The senators also called for designating Chinese automakers, including BYD, as military-connected entities, citing their alleged links to Beijing’s military.

China’s embassy criticised U.S. trade barriers as discriminatory and protectionist.

This continues a bipartisan push to keep Chinese-made cars out of the U.S., with similar legislation proposed by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno.