Newly proposed Congressional laws would require the US to conduct safety evaluations for related automobiles constructed by automakers from China and “different nations of concern.” Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official who has championed the difficulty, launched the invoice on Wednesday.
If handed by Congress (a tall order today), the Linked Automobile Nationwide Safety Evaluate Act would set up a proper evaluation course of for related autos from Chinese language firms. It will additionally enable the Division of Commerce to restrict or ban these automobiles and different automobiles earlier than they attain US shoppers.
“At the moment’s automobiles are extra refined than ever, carrying cameras, radars and different refined sensors, plus the power to course of, transmit and retailer the info they collect from america,” stated Slotkin. “If allowed into our markets, Chinese language related automobiles supply the Chinese language authorities a treasure trove of beneficial intelligence on america, together with the potential to gather info on our navy bases, important infrastructure like the ability grid and site visitors techniques, and even find particular U.S leaders ought to they so select.”
In a speech on the Home flooring earlier this month, Slotkin famous that Chinese language EVs, usually offered less expensive than their US and European counterparts, may shortly acquire a big share of the American market. She cited how Chinese language automobiles, first offered in Europe in 2019, now make up nearly 1 / 4 of its market. The consultant additionally not too long ago pushed Secretary of the Military Christine Wormuth and Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin on the safety hole.
Alternatively (and maybe ideally), legislators may go a complete information privateness legislation reasonably than coping with these points piecemeal.
The invoice’s introduction follows the Biden Administration’s quadrupling of import tariffs on Chinese language EVs. The White Home’s new EV levies grew from 25 p.c to one hundred pc, following China’s EV exports rising 70 p.c between 2022 and 2023.
In February, the White Home additionally ordered the Division of Commerce to analyze the dangers of related automobiles from China and different adversaries. Nevertheless, that motion was carried out by an government order and may very well be undone by future administrations. Slotkin’s laws would shut these loopholes if it makes it by Congress — hardly ever a secure guess in right this moment’s extremely obstructed and contentious political atmosphere.