While there has been a lot of talk about the perceived dangers of Chinese automakers selling vehicles in the United States, we’ve so far managed to avoid a formal ban on the products. That could change if a group of major automakers gets its way, as the Alliance for Automotive Innovation recently petitioned U.S. lawmakers to pass a bill that would permanently ban Chinese vehicles in the U.S.
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The group, which represents General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, and others, wants legislators to take up the bill when they return for a short session after this week’s elections.
John Bozzella, president and CEO of the alliance, said, “We need to protect the U.S. market from a flood of Chinese imports that carry surveillance risk and disadvantage current manufacturers that have made generational investments in American communities.” Bozzella also cited national security risks and China’s “unfair behavior” as reasons to push the bill forward as soon as possible.
The good news for the automakers is that the legislation is one of very few issues American lawmakers can agree on. It passed a Senate committee earlier this year, and the House version has gained more than 100 bipartisan co-sponsors. That said, President Trump has hinted that he’d be fine with Chinese companies building and selling cars here, which raised red flags for existing auto brands.
While not an explicit ban, the Biden administration enacted regulations that effectively prevented Chinese automakers from selling in the United States. Chinese electric vehicles also face tariffs exceeding 100%. The Chinese government has pushed back against the measures, calling them “unreasonable suppression,” but it appears that at least a partial ban could pass in the foreseeable future.
