Biden administration moves to ban imports of ‘related’ cars and parts from China

The Commerce Department released a proposed rule Monday that would ban imports of Chinese and Russian gadgets as well as key hardware and software components that could be used to spy on Americans or potentially take control of their cars.

“Today’s cars are equipped with cameras, microphones, GPS tracking and other internet-connected technology,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. “It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how a foreign adversary with access to this information could pose a serious risk to both our national security and the privacy of U.S. citizens.”

The proposed regulation is the latest crackdown by the United States on Chinese vehicles in recent years, but the first to address hacking threats. Former President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Chinese cars while in office, and President Joe Biden recently moved to increase that tariff to 100% on Chinese electric vehicles.

The proposed rule focuses on the hardware and software integrated into a car’s Vehicle Connectivity System and the software integrated into the Automated Driving System — both critical systems that enable external connectivity and autonomous driving capabilities in the increasingly common “connected vehicles” rolling on American roads.