Rule Bans Chinese-Controlled Vehicles and High-Risk Technologies from Being Imported or Sold in the United States
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) applauded the U.S. Department of Commerce’s finalization of its proposed rule to protect American consumers and companies against the national security threats posed by allowing vehicles and technologies controlled by Chinese Community Party-backed (CCP) companies to be imported or sold in the United States. This comes after Peters urged the Commerce Department to develop such protections and continued to underscore the need for further action to combat the threats posed by CCP-controlled vehicles and high-risk vehicle technologies. This rule will also help to secure the U.S. automotive supply chain and protect the United States’ global leadership in automotive innovation as China seeks to flood the global automotive market with highly subsidized Chinese vehicles.
“The Chinese government is actively working to undermine our national security and our economic success. Chinese Communist Party-backed companies want to flood the U.S. and global marketplace with artificially cheap vehicles that are capable of stealing Americans’ personal data, committing espionage, and being manipulated while folks are driving. We cannot allow that to happen,” said Senator Peters.
Peters continued, “Given the uneven playing field, allowing Chinese Communist Party-controlled vehicles into our country would also jeopardize Michigan’s long-held global leadership in automotive innovation and good paying, union auto jobs in our state. I pushed for this rule to protect American consumers, companies, and workers, and I’m very pleased that it is being finalized to keep this threat off our roads.”
Peters has consistently worked to combat the national security and economic threats posed by Chinese-made vehicles. Most recently, Peters urged the Commerce Department in December to finalize this rule and reiterated how Chinese-controlled vehicles and technologies could compromise our national security. In March, Peters wrote a letter to Secretary Raimondo and the United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai highlighting the need for continued application of Section 301 tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles and supporting the Department of Commerce’s announcement of an investigation into the national security concerns posed by Chinese-made vehicles which led to this proposed rule. Peters then applauded the Commerce Department’s decision to raise tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and other goods across numerous key sectors, including steel and aluminum imports, lithium batteries, critical minerals, solar cells, semiconductors, and medical equipment. Peters also sent a letter to several Chinese automakers pressing for more transparency into their ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Peters has also consistently worked to boost American development of connected vehicles and other critical roadway safety technologies to support Michigan’s auto industry and create good-paying jobs for Michiganders. Last year, Peters – who served as Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports – called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow the deployment of safe, secure Cellular Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X) technology in order to accelerate the use of this lifesaving mobility safety technology and ensure the U.S. does not fall behind other countries in its development and adoption. Following this bipartisan call from Peters, the FCC approved the deployment of C-V2X technology – which is an intelligent transportation system (ITS) technology that enables data sharing between vehicles, the infrastructure they operate on, and nearby road users – improving roadway safety and efficiency. In 2022, Peters welcomed the U.S. Department of Commerce’s $52.2 million investment in the Global Epicenter of Mobility to drive and advance mobility innovation across Michigan’s automotive sector. Peters secured this funding through the American Rescue Plan he helped enact.
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