Gongwer
May 8, 2026
Nick Smith
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin said Thursday that for national security reasons and to protect the United States’ automotive sector, legislation he introduced to ban Chinese-built vehicles and parts from being imported to the U.S. needs to be passed.
Speaking during a panel discussion hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber, Slotkin, D-Holly, repeatedly stressed that the U.S. needs to protect itself, residents and the auto industry from potential harm from China or other “adversarial nations.”
She told the audience about a bill she co-sponsored with U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, that was introduced last month that would prevent Chinese vehicles and vehicle technology from entering the United States market.
The U.S. Department of Commerce issued rules last year that enacted tight restrictions on Chinese-imported vehicles and parts. Her bill would codify the rules.
She said the technology in Chinese-made vehicles can obtain data from drivers and passengers and send it back to the Chinese government, which could be a huge national security risk. Further, it could put U.S. residents at risk of having their data stolen or being hacked while also undercutting the U.S. auto industry.
Slotkin said the timing of the bill’s introduction was critical, coming ahead of President Donald Trump’s May 14 visit to China.
She said when Trump spoke in Detroit in January, he made remarks about allowing Chinese automobiles into the United States, which she said was startling to her for national security reasons as well as for economic reasons.
“We wanted to send, very deliberately, a bipartisan signal to the world that regardless of which party we’re in … that on the issue of bringing in Chinese automobiles into the United States, we were in agreement,” Slotkin said.