There have been calls for President Joe Biden to ban the importation of China-made electric vehicles to the United States.
Senator Sherrod Brown, chair of the Senate Banking Committee, expressed concerns about the impact of Chinese electric vehicles on the American auto industry.
Biden Urged to Permanently Ban China-Made Electric Vehicles
The remarks made by this particular US lawmaker are notably forceful compared to others who have called for imposing high tariffs to restrict the entry of Chinese electric vehicles (EV) into the country.
Last month, Brown and Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan - all representing auto-producing states - urged Biden to significantly increase import tariffs on Chinese EVs to address national security concerns.
According to Reuters, lawmakers and advocates have expressed concerns about the possibility of Chinese automakers manufacturing inexpensive vehicles in Mexico to meet the requirements for US EV tax credits.
In February, it was announced that the US government would be launching an investigation to determine if Chinese cars could potentially pose a threat to national security.
Senator Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, is running for re-election in November's election, aiming to secure a fourth term in office.
The White House has yet to respond to a request for comment from the BBC.
In February, President Biden expressed concerns about China's policies potentially impacting our market and national security. He emphasized his commitment to preventing such a situation during his tenure.
The White House has expressed concerns about the potential for Chinese-made cars to collect significant amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers, leading to the possibility of imposing restrictions.
The statement highlighted the fact that internet-connected vehicles have the capability to continuously capture detailed data on US infrastructure, directly interact with critical infrastructure, and can be remotely controlled or disabled.
China holds the title of the world's leading car manufacturer and is in fierce competition with Japan to become the top exporter of vehicles.
Additionally, America's largest airlines have requested the Biden administration to temporarily suspend the approval of new flights between the US and China.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Department Secretary Pete Buttigieg, concerns were raised about the detrimental impact of China's anti-competitive policies on US carriers.
"If the growth of the Chinese aviation market is not regulated and fails to prioritize equal access, it could result in more flights being given to Chinese carriers, which would negatively impact US workers and businesses."
US-China Trade War
Since 2018, the world's two largest economies have been engaged in a trade war. It began when the previous administration imposed tariffs on over $360 billion worth of Chinese goods.
Beijing responded by imposing tariffs on over $110 billion worth of American goods. President Joe Biden has maintained the tariffs.
In the previous year, there was a significant decline in the value of goods imported by the US from China, amounting to a decrease of more than 20% to $427 billion, according to BBC.
Meanwhile, exports from the US to China experienced a slight decline of 4%, reaching a total of approximately $148 billion.
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