Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) said he plans to introduce legislation to block Chinese cars and auto parts from the U.S. market, arguing that the current restrictions do not go far enough.
Moreno made the announcement on March 31 during the Automotive Forum in New York City. He said his proposal would expand on existing federal rules and close loopholes tied to software, hardware, and business partnerships.
“There will not be a Chinese automobile here,” Moreno said. “And what I’m hoping is that Latin America, Mexico, Canada, and Europe adopt our same standards now.”
The proposal would build on restrictions already put in place by the Biden administration. In January 2025, the federal government imposed rules that effectively blocked Chinese automakers from selling passenger vehicles in the United States.
Officials said the move was driven by national security concerns, including the risk that connected vehicles could collect sensitive data on American drivers.
Some regulations focused on specific parts of the supply chain, including software and hardware. Moreno said his bill would be broader and would make sure Chinese automakers cannot enter the U.S. market through indirect arrangements.
According to Reuters, Moreno said the legislation would “seal off the U.S.” so “there’s never a scenario where a Chinese automobile will enter our market, that’s hardware, that’s software, that’s partnerships.”
He compared the issue to earlier U.S. restrictions on Chinese telecom giant Huawei.
“We don’t allow Huawei to come into our telecommunications infrastructure. We’re not going to allow Chinese automakers into this market,” Moreno said. “We’re going to prevent the cancer from coming into our market, and we’re going to need the other countries to do chemotherapy.”
The push comes as industry groups appear to support tougher action. Five major organizations representing automakers, dealers, and parts suppliers wrote to President Donald Trump on March 12, urging him to keep the Biden-era rule in place ahead of his expected trip to China.
The letter was signed by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the National Automobile Dealers Association, Autos Drive America, the American Automotive Policy Council, and MEMA, the Vehicle Suppliers Association.
The groups also warned against letting Chinese manufacturers avoid the restrictions by building vehicles inside the United States.
“We also strongly urge the Administration to reject any attempt by Chinese manufacturers to circumvent these existing restrictions by establishing production facilities in the U.S.,” the letter said.
“The market distortions and risks to the auto industry in the U.S. are fundamentally the same whether these vehicles are imported or produced domestically,” it added.
Moreno’s proposal also comes as Trump has previously signaled he could support Chinese carmakers building factories in the United States if they create jobs. Speaking at the Detroit Economic Club in January, Trump said, “If they want to come in and build a plant and hire you and hire your friends and your neighbors, that’s great, I love that.”
China pushed back against Moreno’s effort. The Chinese Embassy in Washington said the United States has used trade protectionism and discriminatory policies to block Chinese-made vehicles from entering the market.
The embassy said the proposed legislation “violates the principles of a market economy and fair competition, and is typical protectionism and economic coercion. China firmly opposes this.”
The issue could also affect North American trade. Autos account for more than one-fifth of trade among the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and remain the largest sector in U.S.-Mexico trade. Moreno said he hopes U.S. allies will follow Washington’s lead and tighten their own rules on Chinese vehicle imports.