Senator Sherrod Brown, chair of the Senate Banking Committee, strongly advises President Joe Biden to prohibit the importation of Chinese-made electric cars into the US.
Senator Brown emphasized that Chinese electric vehicles pose a significant threat to the American auto industry.
His remarks mark the most assertive stance taken by any US lawmaker on this issue, although others have suggested imposing hefty tariffs to prevent the entry of Chinese electric vehicles into the country.
Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio state( image credit : twitter.com/sensherrodbrown)
In February, the White House announced an investigation into whether Chinese cars pose a national security risk.
Senator Brown underscored the importance of preventing China from unfairly impacting the American auto industry through government-supported practices.
He expressed these views in a video posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Senator Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, a state known for its car manufacturing, is currently campaigning for a fourth term in office in the upcoming November election.
https://x.com/sensherrodbrown/status/1778516780408877463?s=46
The White House did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment.
In February, President Biden expressed concerns about China’s policies potentially flooding the US market with vehicles, which he views as a risk to national security.
The White House cautioned that Chinese-made cars’ technology could gather sensitive data on drivers and passengers, with capabilities for remote piloting or disabling.
While China leads globally in car production and competes with Japan in vehicle exports, the number of Chinese cars on US roads remains low due to a 27.5% tariff imposed by the US.
During a recent trip to China, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned against a recurrence of the “China shock” of the early 2000s, when Chinese imports surged into the US.
China’s vice finance minister, Liao Min, expressed concern about US trade and investment restrictions.
American airlines urged the Biden administration to halt approvals for new flights between the US and China, citing China’s anti-competitive policies.
The ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies began in 2018, with tariffs imposed on billions of dollars’ worth of goods.
President Biden has largely maintained these tariffs.
In 2023, US imports from China decreased by over 20%, while exports to China also saw a slight decline.
