Democrats urge Trump to keep ban on Chinese cars in US as Xi meeting looms

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US lawmakers warn of ‘irreversible’ consequences for industry ahead of Trump’s planned summit with Chinese President ⁠Xi Jinping next month

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Lucy Quagginin New YorkPublished: 6:42am, 29 Apr 2026Over 70 Democrats on Tuesday urged US President Donald Trump to keep Chinese carmakers out of America, warning of “irreversible” consequences, just weeks ahead of his high-stakes trip to Beijing to meet with China’s President Xi Jinping.

“We must not cede the American auto industry to a strategic competitor intent on global dominance,” a letter, signed by 73 House Democrats led by US Representative Debbie Dingell, said. “The consequences for American workers, our supply chains, our national security, and our communities would be profound and irreversible.”

Trump will head to China for a summit with his Chinese counterpart, Xi, on May 14 and 15, which had been postponed from late March after the US and Israel went to war with Iran.Advertisement

Ahead of the trip, Democrats warned that “any effort to lower barriers for Chinese automobiles or otherwise facilitate their entry into the US market would pose a direct threat to American manufacturing, workers, and national security,” adding that it was a firm and non-negotiable priority.

Among the letter’s signatories was Ro Khanna, the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Communist Party.

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Trump has expressed openness to Chinese carmakers entering the US since returning to office, as long as they build their factories in America and hire local workers.

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