U.S. President Donald Trump may allow Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) to be sold in the United States as part of negotiations with China, a claim has emerged. The claim is based on unverified rumors, and the White House has so far announced no plan to ease trade barriers on Chinese cars.

On Sept. 9 (local time), EV outlet Electrek reported that Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin (엘리사 슬롯킨) of Michigan said there were rumors Trump could allow Chinese-made cars to be sold in the United States as he pursues a broader deal with China.

Slotkin voiced concern in a post on X, formerly Twitter, referring to a planned Washington meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping that she said is expected to take place "within a few weeks". "I am hearing rumors that Trump plans to allow Chinese cars to be sold in the U.S. as part of a larger deal," she said, calling it a "strategic mistake". She added it could have an "irreversible impact" on 1,200,000 jobs tied to Michigan's auto industry and on U.S. manufacturing capacity more broadly.

Slotkin did not disclose the source of the rumors. The White House also has not announced any plan to ease automobile trade barriers with China.

Her remarks also intersect with a bipartisan bill she is backing. Slotkin and Republican Senator Bernie Moreno (버니 모레노) of Ohio are jointly promoting the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 to block Chinese-made vehicles and related software and hardware from entering the U.S. market. The bill passed the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously in July, and Slotkin is urging action in the full Senate.

"Sen. Moreno and I have a bipartisan bill to stop Chinese cars from entering the U.S. market and crossing over through bridges and tunnels at the border," Slotkin said. The measure also targets Chinese-brand vehicles assembled in Canada and Mexico.

The U.S. auto industry and the United Auto Workers (UAW) also support the bill. They have framed Chinese EVs as a national security threat rather than a simple price-competition issue and have urged Congress to legislate.

Chinese-made EVs are effectively blocked from entering the U.S. market. The administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden (조 바이든) raised tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100 percent from 25 percent in 2024. The Trump administration is keeping the tariffs, and Trump has repeatedly described the 100 percent tariff as one of Biden's few correct moves.

Based on policy signals confirmed so far, there is little to support the possibility of opening the U.S. market to Chinese-made EVs. Allowing Chinese-made vehicles into the U.S. market in negotiations with Xi would be a significant policy shift, but the moves seen so far have been closer to blocking Chinese cars from entering the United States.

The debate over Chinese-made EVs is resurfacing as an issue that intertwines protection of the U.S. auto industry, trade policy toward China and national security. As the Senate advances a ban targeting Chinese-made vehicles, attention is on what stance the White House will take on Chinese cars entering the U.S. market.

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