By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) – The authors of bipartisan legislation to make permanent a ban on Chinese vehicles in the United States plan to use a fast-track procedure to win Senate approval on Thursday, as President Donald Trump meets with China’s President Xi Jinping, Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin told Reuters.
Slotkin and Republican Senator Bernie Moreno plan to seek unanimous consent for approval of the measure. She said all Democrats support moving ahead and only one Republican opposes the measure. “My understanding is it’s 99 to 1,” Slotkin said.
Under the procedure, a single opponent could block approval.
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.
Trump is meeting Xi this week to address a wide range of trade issues. China has strongly opposed the US vehicle ban and efforts to make it permanent.
“I think if President Trump allows in these Chinese companies, it is beginning of the end of the auto industry in the United States,” Slotkin, of Michigan, said.
Earlier this month, Trump told Fox News he would accept Chinese car companies building cars in the United States, sparking alarm among automakers.
Last week, automakers, suppliers and dealers 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 former President Joe Biden’s 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.
Senator Ted Cruz said earlier that the bill would ban companies with more than 15% ownership from Chinese entities from selling vehicles in the United States. That could bar Mercedes-Benz because of Chinese investors’ nearly 20% stake. Moreno said Mercedes-Benz would have until 2030 to comply and could still get waivers if needed.
Slotkin said there were ongoing conversations about how Mercedes could comply.
The bill, which has 51 Senate supporters, would make the ban into law and prevent the White House from issuing waivers to Chinese manufacturers to sell vehicles in the United States.
(Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Nick Zieminski and Alistair Bell)
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