Biden faces pressure to prohibit Chinese electric vehicle imports

Senator Sherrod Brown advocates for a ban on Chinese-made electric vehicles in the U.S., citing national security risks.

Mariko Oi reports for BBC.

In short:

• Senator Sherrod Brown describes Chinese electric vehicles as a serious threat to the U.S. auto industry.
• The U.S. is investigating if these vehicles compromise national security by potentially harvesting sensitive data.
• Concerns include the ability of these cars to interact with U.S. infrastructure and be remotely controlled.

Key quote:

"We cannot allow China to bring its government-backed cheating to the American auto industry."

— Senator Sherrod Brown, chair of the Senate Banking Committee

Why this matters:

There are national security worries about the dependence on foreign technology and the potential for espionage through connected vehicles. In addition, economic considerations play a role, as the U.S. government aims to boost local manufacturing and jobs within the burgeoning EV industry. Protection of American companies from competitive pricing by Chinese manufacturers could drive a decision to ban Chinese EV imports.

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