President Joe Biden Urged to Permanently Ban Chinese-Made Cars
WASHINGTON — The call for President Joe Biden to implement a permanent ban on imports of Chinese-made cars to the US is growing louder.
The chair of the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Sherrod Brown, has declared that “Chinese electric vehicles are an existential threat to the American auto industry”.
Senator Brown’s strong words mark a significant stance taken by a US lawmaker on the issue, with others also advocating for steep tariffs to prevent Chinese electric vehicles (EV) from entering the country.
In February, the White House announced that it was launching an investigation to determine whether Chinese cars pose a national security risk.
“We cannot allow China to bring its government-backed cheating to the American auto industry,” Senator Brown emphasized in a video shared on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Senator Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, a state known for car production, is currently campaigning for a fourth term in office in the upcoming November election.
The White House has not yet issued a response to the BBC’s request for comment.
President Biden had previously expressed concerns about China’s policies potentially flooding the US market with vehicles, posing national security risks, and vowed to prevent such a scenario during his administration.
There are worries in Washington that the technology in Chinese-made cars could be used to gather sensitive data on drivers and passengers, prompting the White House to consider imposing restrictions.
China, a major player in the global automotive industry, is not only the world’s largest car producer but also a key contender with Japan to become the leading vehicle exporter.
Additionally, on the same day, major US airlines petitioned the Biden administration to stop approving new flights between the US and China.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Department Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the airlines raised concerns about China’s anti-competitive policies putting US carriers at a disadvantage.
The ongoing trade tensions between the US and China have been a focal point, with both countries locked in a trade war since 2018, marked by tariffs imposed on billions of dollars’ worth of each other’s goods.
President Biden has maintained most of the tariffs imposed by the previous administration, underscoring the complex relationship between the two economic powerhouses.
In 2020, the US saw a decline in the value of goods imported from China, while exports to China also experienced a slight decrease, reflecting the impact of the trade war. — BBC
