China’s Auto Industry Exports New Cars as Used, Raising New Concerns of Dumping

China’s exports of ‘used’ cars with zero mileage circumvents trade regulations and tariffs, which may lead to trade friction, experts say.

Cars for export are ready to be loaded onto a ship at a port in Yantai, in eastern China's Shandong province on April 3, 2025. AFP via Getty Images

The Chinese regime has been exporting new cars as “used” to absorb the auto industry’s overcapacity amid low domestic demand and increased tariffs, raising renewed concerns of dumping.

A large number of “zero-mileage” new cars have been marked as used and sold both domestically and abroad in recent years, according to Chinese and international media reports.