Senators will try to win approval of permanent Chinese car ban in November (updated)

Stellantis N.v

30/09/2026 21:22

    (Adds more details, comments in paragraphs 4-9)
    By David Shepardson
       WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The two US senators
backing a permanent legislative ban on Chinese vehicles in the
US will not seek approval until the Senate returns from recess
in November, congressional aides said Wednesday.
    Republican Senator Bernie Moreno said on Tuesday that he
planned to seek fast-track approval for the stringent ban on
Chinese vehicles this week before the Senate left ahead of the
November congressional election. But supporters were unable to
address the concerns of a holdout senator, Republican Rand Paul,
who had raised concerns it was unfairly targeting Mercedes-Benz.
    The bill's other chief ​sponsor, Democratic Senator Elissa
Slotkin, said last week that all Democrats support moving ahead
and she was hoping to get fast-track approval this week.
    Moreno said on Tuesday the final version of the bill would
ensure that German automaker ​Mercedes-Benz  MBGn.DE  is not
banned from selling vehicles in the US.
     The bill approved by the Senate Commerce ‌Committee in July
would ban companies with more than 15% ownership by Chinese
entities from selling vehicles in the US. Mercedes-Benz has
nearly 20% passive ownership from Chinese entities.
    The bill has significant momentum and a House version now
tops 100 co-sponsors, while automakers and legislative aides
hope to win full passage this year.
    President Donald Trump ​told Fox News earlier this ​month
that he would ⁠accept Chinese car companies building cars in the
US, sparking alarm among automakers. Automakers, suppliers and
dealers have urged Trump "to maintain policies that keep the
door firmly ​shut to Chinese automakers seeking to sell, import
or manufacture vehicles inside the US."
    A ​regulation imposed ⁠by the former Biden administration in
early 2025 effectively banned all Chinese automakers from
selling or building passenger vehicles in the US because they
could send sensitive driver data to China. Washington also
maintains more than 100% tariffs on Chinese electric ⁠vehicles.
    The ​Chinese foreign ministry has previously urged the
United States "to respect the ​laws of the market economy and
principles of fair competition," criticizing previous proposals
against Chinese companies as "unreasonable suppression."

    (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter and
Alistair Bell)
 ((David.Shepardson@thomsonreuters.com; 2028988324;))