Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo expressed national security concerns about Chinese electric vehicles potentially flooding the US market.
She agreed more actions may need to be taken beyond existing EV tariffs.
“Stellantis’ CEO saying low-cost Chinese EVs are, going to be an ‘existential problem’, just a few days ago. We know Europe’s grappling with this problem. In the U.S., we already have a tariff on Chinese EV imports. Do more actions need to be taken?” Morgan Brennan asked.
Raimondo cited concerns that data from sensors in Chinese EVs, such as who is driving and where, could undermine national security if sent back to Beijing.
She also noted Chinese subsidies and low-cost financing distort the market, hurting American competitiveness.
While the administration thinks carefully about appropriate actions, Raimondo affirmed the president is concerned about both national security and market issues related to Chinese EVs.
“Probably, yes. I share the concern. By the way, I have national security concerns about electric vehicles. An electric vehicle has sensors and semiconductors. They know who’s driving it, where they’re driving, huge amounts of data,” Raimondo said.
She pledged to protect Americans and keep considering steps to address potential threats.
“Chinese EVs on our road, is that data going back to Beijing in ways that undermine our national security? We’re looking hard at that. Additionally, what you say, listen, I have always maintained Americans can compete if there’s a level playing field. And you have a situation where China is distorting the market dynamics due to subsidies and low costs of capital,” she said.
“And so, I know the president is deeply concerned about both of these issues, and the administration is being thoughtful. We want to get it right, but have our eye, certainly, on the ball of thinking about what can we do, what must we do to protect Americans.”
