Biden Admin May Bar Chinese Vehicle Imports, Cites National Security

(MNI) London - The US Department of Commerce has released a statement confirming the start of a 'regulatory process' investigating the potential national security risks posed by the information and communications technology and services (ICTS) in connected vehicles.

• The White House first outlined the upcoming investigation on 29 Feb, with a statement from President Joe Biden saying that "Connected vehicles from China could collect sensitive data about our citizens and our infrastructure and send this data back to the People’s Republic of China. These vehicles could be remotely accessed or disabled. China imposes restrictions on American autos [...] Why should connected vehicles from China be allowed to operate in our country without safeguards?"
• Commerce Sec Gina Raimondo: "To assess these national security concerns, we are issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to investigate the national security risks of connected vehicles, specifically PRC-manufactured technology in the vehicles.”
• As part of the investigation, the Commerce Dep't will assess potential "implementation mechanisms to address these risks through potential prohibitions or, where feasible, mitigation measures", raising the prospect of a ban on imports.
• Reuters reports the response from Chinese Foreign Ministry spox Mao Ning claiming that the US is "overstretching the concept of national security".
• While the US imports a relatively small number of Chinese autos, the row risks escalating trade tensions between the two powers that had in recent months appeared to be improving following a number of high-profile meetings betwen senior politicians, including Presidents Biden and Xi.