US trade chief says tech restrictions to block Chinese autos

Published Fri, Apr 10, 2026 · 06:55 AM

THE top US trade official said restrictions on foreign technology will likely keep Chinese carmakers out of the US for the foreseeable future, throwing cold water on the prospect of those manufacturers establishing a foothold in the domestic auto market.

Rules prohibiting connected vehicle technology and software made by so-called foreign entities of concern pose a steep barrier for many Chinese companies, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters on Thursday. Those rules are taking effect over the next 12 to 18 months, he said.

“We don’t see any change in that,” Greer said during a tour of a Stellantis NV plant in Michigan. “It would probably be difficult for certain countries to establish new production here, given those sets of rules.”

The prospect of Chinese carmakers entering the US market has become a closely watched topic for the domestic auto industry this year, particularly after President Donald Trump indicated in January that he would be open to arrangements that employed American workers. That would be a watershed moment with major implications for US manufacturers and consumers.

Greer downplayed how prominent an issue the the auto industry would be in the upcoming meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for next month.

US and China trade officials who met recently in Paris ahead of the summit “really coalesced around a handful of areas where we want to have outcomes, nothing really directly on the auto industry,” Greer said.

Led by the likes of BYD and Geely Automobile Holdings, China’s automakers have rapidly gained market share in Europe, Mexico and South America with lower-cost models that feature advanced electric-vehicle batteries and infotainment systems.

They also receive government subsidies and can offer technology at low prices in part because they tolerate slim margins or even losses, giving them a competitive edge that western rivals struggle to match.

Canada’s government recently agreed to allow 49,000 Chinese vehicles into the country each year.

Greer visited Stellantis’ plant in Warren, Michigan, which makes the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and met with officials from the United Auto Workers union, including Shawn Fain, the union’s president.

During the meeting, Greer emphasised that tariffs are an effective tool to bring manufacturing back to the US, said Eric Graham, president of UAW Local 140, which represents workers at the plant.

The plant currently operates one shift, down from two in 2024, when Stellantis moved some Ram pickup production to Mexico. The factory is slated to make a new Ram-brand SUV in 2028, but there are still about 340 workers on layoff, Graham said.

“We have the space, we have the people, we just need the opportunity,” Graham said he told Greer. BLOOMBERG