The STOP China Act bars the federal government from using transportation funding or any Department of Transportation appropriations to purchase vehicles — including buses and rolling stock — produced by entities based in, owned by, or controlled by China or other covered nations, and also prohibits federally funded fueling or charging infrastructure for those vehicles. The U.S. Trade Representative must publish an initial list of prohibited entities within 30 days of enactment, update it every 90 days for the first 180 days, and annually after that. The prohibition applies to complete vehicles as well as rolling stock that incorporates an electric powertrain from a covered entity. Transit agencies and other recipients of federal transportation grants are effectively blocked from procuring Chinese-manufactured buses or rail cars using federal dollars under any new contracts, though contracts already in progress may be completed. Exceptions exist for safety inspections, investigations, and federal research and testing purposes.
Corporate Benefits
- Federal procurement preference — Chinese-vehicle ban channels contracts to domestic/allied manufacturers
Average Household Impact
- Transit-agency procurement costs — narrowed supplier pool may raise costs for publicly funded transit
Transparency & Accountability
- USTR public list — covered-entity registry due within 30 days
- List update cadence — every 90 days for 6 months, then annually
Congressional Summary
Safeguarding Transit Operations to Prohibit China Act or the STOP China Act This bill prohibits federal transportation funds from being used to purchase rolling stock (e.g., rail cars or buses) or fueling or charging infrastructure from entities with ties to China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran (i.e., a covered nation). In general, this replaces a current prohibition on the use of Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) funds for rolling stock from manufacturers owned or controlled by corporations based in certain countries.Specifically, Department of Transportation (DOT) funds, which include FTA funds, may not be used for the purchase of rolling stock or bus fueling or charging infrastructure from entities with ties to a covered nation. This prohibition also applies to vehicles that incorporate electric power trains from such entities.The prohibition broadly applies to corporations, joint ventures, individuals, and organizations with ties to covered nations. Examples of applicable entities include an individual whose activities are directed or financed by a covered nation or an entity that is owned or controlled by a covered nation or such an individual.The United States Trade Representative (USTR) must publish a list of the applicable entities and update the list annually.The bill includes an exception for motor vehicles or fueling and charging stations used for (1) inspecting or investigating vehicles or equipment; or (2) vehicle safety research, development, or testing.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-05-12
- Date Added
- 2026-05-29
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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