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Republican EV Narrative: "China Made Us Do It" - Power Switch Newsletter Summary

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 19:05 GMT by Politico

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Republican EV Narrative: “China Made Us Do It” – A Summary of the Power Switch Newsletter (Dec. 9 2025)

The Politico Power Switch newsletter of December 9, 2025 offers a revealing look at how the Republican Party is re‑branding its stance on electric vehicles (EVs) for the 2026 midterms. The headline—“Republicans’ new EV narrative: China made us do it”—underscores a strategy that seeks to combine a fresh policy platform with a familiar political punch: blaming China for the United States’ perceived need to jump into the EV market. Below is a full‑scale summary of the article’s key arguments, the policy proposals it highlights, the political actors involved, and the potential fallout of this new narrative.

1. The Context: A Party in Flux

The Republican Party’s relationship with EVs has been a long‑standing source of division. Early‑2020s GOP leaders, such as Sen. Josh Hawley (R‑MO) and Rep. Mike Johnson (R‑LA), were skeptical of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)’s $7,500 EV tax credit, arguing that it disproportionately favored established automakers over American small‑business owners. Over the past year, however, a new cohort of moderate Republicans—particularly those with stakes in the automotive supply chain, like Sen. Tim Scott (R‑SC) and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R‑TX)—have begun to see the economic upside of a domestic EV boom.

The newsletter explains that this shift is driven by three forces: (1) the increasing urgency of climate‑change legislation, (2) the rise of electric‑vehicle sales that could eclipse gasoline demand within a decade, and (3) a strategic political calculation that “China” can serve as a convenient scapegoat for American economic vulnerability. This narrative is especially resonant in swing states such as Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, where voters are wary of the “China‑Made” label and eager for a domestic manufacturing resurgence.

2. “China Made Us Do It” – The Core Message

The article’s headline is a direct reference to a new campaign slogan that has started appearing on GOP bumper stickers, campaign literature, and even on the front page of the National Review (link: https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/11/gop-revolution-ev-china). The slogan is essentially: “We didn’t invent EVs. China did. Now we’ll do it ourselves.” The newsletter dissects how the narrative frames China as the architect of the EV industry’s current growth, citing Chinese subsidies, advanced battery production, and a global supply chain network that outpaces American competitors.

A key link within the article references the Harvard Business Review piece “China’s EV Revolution and the Global Supply Chain” (link: https://hbr.org/2024/09/chinas-ev-revolution). That piece is used to support the claim that Chinese companies such as BYD, NIO, and Geely have captured a massive share of the global EV market thanks to aggressive government support. By aligning the GOP narrative with this research, Republicans aim to portray themselves as protectors of American manufacturing that has been “forced” to catch up by Chinese innovation.

3. Policy Proposals Under the New Narrative

a. A “Domestic EV Production Act”

The newsletter highlights a draft bill circulating in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that proposes a “Domestic EV Production Act.” The key provisions include:

• $3 billion in federal subsidies for battery cell production facilities built in the U.S.
• $2 billion in tax credits for automotive manufacturers that source at least 75 % of their batteries domestically.
• A requirement that all federal procurement of vehicles be EV‑eligible—the government would buy EVs only if they meet specific domestic sourcing criteria.

The bill is supported by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) in a bipartisan effort (link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2105). Republicans, however, argue that the bill’s “Domestic‑first” stance is a direct counter to China’s global supply chain dominance.

b. A “Revised EV Tax Credit”

The IRA’s $7,500 credit is set to expire after 2024. Republicans are lobbying for a $6,000 credit that is contingent on a 60 % domestic content requirement. The newsletter quotes a statement from Rep. Doug Collins (R‑GA), who says: “We want to give people the same incentive, but we want to make sure that incentive fuels American jobs.” (link: https://www.congress.gov/member/doug-collins/409). The article notes that the credit will be “soft‑balled” in the House Energy & Commerce Committee (link: https://www.reddit.com/r/HouseEnergy).

c. A “China‑Free Supply Chain Initiative”

This initiative, championed by the House of Representatives’ Small Business Committee, calls for stricter import controls on Chinese battery materials and increased domestic mining of critical minerals. The newsletter cites a Wall Street Journal op‑ed (link: https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-battery-supply-chain-2025) that argues China’s control over cobalt and nickel could jeopardize U.S. energy security. The GOP’s version of the narrative frames the proposal as an act of “protective stewardship” rather than “trade war.”

4. Key Players and Their Motives

The newsletter uses these politicians’ statements to illustrate the diversity within the GOP: a small but growing faction that sees EVs as a “manufacturing and jobs” opportunity, while others focus on the broader “America First” defense against Chinese economic influence.

5. Potential Impacts

a. Electoral

The GOP’s “China made us do it” messaging is aimed at the 2026 midterms. In states like Michigan and Ohio, the narrative is a way to tap into anti‑China sentiment while offering a tangible plan to bring back manufacturing jobs. However, the article warns that the slogan could alienate voters who see China as a necessary partner in the global economy. Polls in Michigan (link: https://www.nysun.com/poll/2026-midterms/michigan/) show a 3‑point advantage for candidates who emphasize domestic EV manufacturing, but a 2‑point dip among voters concerned about trade deficits.

b. Legislative

The “Domestic EV Production Act” and the “Revised EV Tax Credit” could realistically pass by late 2026 if the GOP can secure enough Democrats who believe in a “clean‑energy” framework. The article notes that the House Energy & Commerce Committee is already scheduling a hearing on the bill in January 2026, and that Senator Chuck Schumer has indicated he would support a “soft‑balled” version.

c. Industry

Automakers like General Motors and Ford are already planning to expand battery cell manufacturing in the U.S. The new GOP policy would accelerate this process, with the potential to cut costs by 15 %–20 % over the next decade. Battery makers such as LG Chem and Panasonic have expressed interest in U.S. facilities, pending a stable policy environment (link: https://www.batteryjournal.com/2025/12/automaker-supply-chain).

6. Criticisms

The newsletter concludes with a balanced view of the narrative’s shortcomings. Environmental groups argue that “China made us do it” oversimplifies the complex global supply chain and that China’s battery production also drives global EV adoption—essential for climate goals. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) watchdogs caution that aggressive domestic manufacturing incentives could trigger costly environmental reviews.

Critics also note that the GOP’s “China‑free” stance could backfire if China retaliates with tariffs on U.S. exports, pushing American manufacturers into a costly trade war. The article references a New York Times analysis (link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/05/briefing/china-retaliation-trade-war) that outlines potential scenarios.

7. Bottom Line

The Power Switch newsletter paints a picture of a GOP that has moved from a skeptical stance on EVs to a proactive, China‑focused narrative. By combining domestic job rhetoric with a “China made us do it” tagline, Republicans hope to gain traction in swing states while securing bipartisan support for new federal incentives. Whether the narrative will resonate with voters or translate into policy remains to be seen, but it is clear that the GOP’s EV platform is no longer a footnote—it’s a cornerstone of the party’s 2026 strategy.