Senators threaten to withhold WMATA funds if it selects Chinese railcars

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Post reports legislation being proposed by the region’s senators stipulate that Congress would approve 10 more years of critical federal funding for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), but only if the transit agency agreed to not buy its next generation of railcars from China.

The move reflects a growing backlash in Washington against the China Railway Rolling Stock Corp. (CRRC) — China’s state-owned rail company — whose growing presence in the U.S. market has raised concerns that it could ravage American manufacturers and provide platforms for cyberespionage.

CRRC is actively pursuing a WMATA contract likely to exceed $1 billion to build up to 800 of its new 8000-series railcars. The company has won four major U.S. railcar contracts in recent years, with low bids that critics complain are possible because of government subsidies. For the full story, click here.